Faced with a massive first innings total from Kent, Hampshire's batsmen responded in very positive fashion so that at stumps on the third day they were just 87 runs behind with 6 wickets in hand. This was largely thanks to John Crawley, on his debut for his new county with an undefeated 223, and Neil Johnson, who scored 117 to share a fourth wicket partnership with Crawley worth 232.

Crawley's old county, Lancashire, were set 388 to beat Leicestershire. This after Kyle Hogg had taken 5 wickets as Leicestershire were bowled out for 277 in their second innings. It would have been an easier task for Lancashire had it not been for a partnership of 99 for the eighth wicket between Neil Burns (62) and Phil DeFreitas (41). At the close, Lancashire still needed another 255 runs with 9 wickets in hand.

Chris Adams, the Sussex captain, and Tony Cottey scored 114 each in the second innings, having been made to follow on at The Oval. The pair did not get enough support for Surrey to be set a serious total in their second innings, and at the close the favourites for the title needed only another 89 runs to win with all wickets standing.

In Division Two, there was no play before lunch at Chester-le-Street, but that was a minor irritation to Middlesex who proceeded to wrap up the Durham innings to win by 10 wickets when chasing a mere 27 to win. Ashley Noffke took three wickets in Durham's second innings.

Derbyshire, the favourites for the wooden spoon, look like making a nonsense of those predictions in their first match. At the close of play, Glamorgan were still 223 runs short of victory with only three wickets in hand. Steve James scored 78 for Glamorgan, but it was not until Mark Wallace (84) and Mike Kasprowicz (34) came together in an unbroken eighth wicket partnership that has so far realised 75 runs that there was serious resistance to the Derbyshire bowlers.

Graeme Hick fell just eight runs short of a century at New Road as Worcestershire set Gloucestershire 361 to win in their second innings. There were six wickets for Jon Lewis, while earlier in the day Andy Bichel took 9 for 93. Bichel took the one wicket to fall in Gloucestershire's second innings as the visitors knocked off 15 of the required runs.

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