Derbyshire v Warwickshire
Nottinghamshire v Hampshire
Sussex v Gloucestershire
Worcestershire v Middlesex

Nottinghamshire 245 v Hampshire Trent Bridge
Points so far Nottinghamshire 1, Hampshire 3
Who needs what Hampshire need just three bonus points to secure promotion and if they get seven points more than leaders Sussex they could even pip them to the title; Nottinghamshire, one off the bottom, could finish sixth if they get five points more than Worcestershire.
Story of the day A little more than 30 overs' play was possible, and that's all it took for Hampshire to wrap up the Nottinghamshire innings and, in doing so, secure the bonus points they needed to guarantee promotion. Alex Morris (5 for 108) and Alan Mullally (5 for 74) proved too much for all but a defiant Usman Afzaal (91).

Derbyshire 106, Warwickshire 69 for 3 Derby
Points so far Derbyshire 1, Warwickshire 3
Who needs what Warwickshire, in fourth, need to gain four more points from their game than Gloucs, in third, get from theirs – although if Middlesex, in fifth, win then Warwickshire would also need to win. Bottom-placed Derbyshire have nothing to play for.
Story of the day In the hour's play which was possible in the morning, Warwickshire reduced their first-innings deficit to 37 for the loss of Powell (1), Wagh (30) and Hemp (3). Nick Knight (26*) survived but rain prevented any action after 1pm.

Middlesex 349, Worcestershire 182 for 1 Worcester
Points so far Worcestershire 3, Middlesex 3
Who needs what Middlesex, in fifth place going into the match, must win and rely on Gloucestershire and Warwickshire not winning their games; Worcester, two off the bottom, have nothing but pride to play for.
Story of the day Middlesex made steady progress after rain had delayed the start by an hour, adding 91 runs in 22 overs, with Cook (37*) and Bloomfield (27) putting on 50 for the eighth wicket. Weston (71) and Singh (103*) gave Worcestershire an excellent start with an opening stand of 180 in 36 overs. Middlesex's only success came when Tufnell removed Weston shortly before bad light ended play.

Sussex 384, Gloucestershire 228 Hove
Points so far Gloucestershire 4, Sussex 7
Who needs what Sussex are already promoted and just need to match Hampshire's result to secure the title; Gloucestershire, in third, lead Warwickshire by 3.25 points and Middlesex by seven points and need a win (and at least five bonus points) to be absolutely sure of promotion.
Story of the day Gloucestershire's tenuous hold on third place looked all the more precarious after a day which ended with Sussex very much in the driving seat. It had started well for Gloucestershire as Roger Sillence (5 for 97) removed the overnight batsmen Robin Martin-Jenkins (113) and Mark Davis (44) in the first three overs before James Kirtley (47*) and Jason Lewry (51) added 82 for the ninth wicket. But Gloucestershire's reply began badly as Lewry trapped Hewson lbw first ball, and apart from a third-wicket stand of 59 between Barnett (37) and Windows (41), and a defiant 54-ball 71 by Ian Harvey, Sussex remained in control. James Kirtley (4 for 59) and Mark Robinson (4 for 39 in his final first-class appearance) were the pick of the bowlers. Sussex delayed their decision on the follow-on until Friday morning.

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