Andrew Caddick (five for 65) made his comeback after a side strain to help Somerset restrict second-placed Kent to 271 at Canterbury. The home side began nervously, losing two wickets for just 49, but David Fulton (89) remained solid and composed, and was joined by Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds, who fired on all cylinders to score a stylish 65-ball 69. Both were dismissed after lunch, the latter caught by Caddick off Richard Johnson, whilst Fulton was caught behind off Caddick. Mark Ealham (36*) was the only other main contributor as Somerset regained control of the match. The visitors though were themselves in trouble when they lost Jamie Cox (1) and Michael Burns (4) early on to Amjad Kahn (two for 21) and when play ended Somerset had made 64 for two.

Bottom-placed Yorkshire bowled Warwickshire out for 233 at Headingley as Shane Bond made his debut for the visitors. They lost Michael Powell to the second ball of the day, as he edged Chris Silverwood (three for 49) to wicket-keeper Richard Blakey. Nick Knight (79) shared a 96-run stand for the second wicket with Mark Wagh (23). Anthony McGrath (two for 24) ended the partnership when he dismissed Wagh, and then trapped Ian Bell leg before with his next delivery. Dominic Ostler scored 35 before he was bowled by Silverwood as the visitors were dismissed for 233. Yorkshire lost Vic Craven (4) with only five on the board but Anthony McGrath (10*) and Christopher Taylor (11*) ensured no further wickets fell as the home side ended the day on 29 for one, 204 behind.

Second Division leaders Middlesex made a solid start against struggling Northamptonshire. Andrew Strauss (43) was dismissed shortly before lunch with the score at 93 for two before Ben Hutton (69*) hit a half-century which included two sixes. With the in-form Owais Shah (78*), he put on 115 for the third wicket before the heavens opened, preventing any further play. At the close Middlesex were 206 for three.

Essex slumped from 153 for one at lunch to 268 all out as their promotion challenge suffered yet another setback in their clash with Derbyshire. Darren Robinson (69) and Will Jefferson (59) laid the foundations with an opening partnership of 118, but when John Stephenson was caught by wicket-keeper Luke Sutton (five catches) for 28, Essex suffered a middle-order collapse. Mohammad Ali (three for 71) was effective but expensive, while Graeme Welch claimed three for 34 off 23 overs to put the ball firmly in Derbyshire's court. Only Jamie Middlebrook offered any sort of resistance and when he was the last man out for 40, Essex had made 268. In reply the home side lost Andrew Gait (1), Michael Di Venuto (9) and Matthew Dowman (2) early on but Christopher Bassano (48*) and Steven Selwood (12*) added an unbeaten 57 for the fourth wicket as they finished on 89 for three.

Gloucestershire's overseas star Ian Harvey punished Glamorgan heavily as he recorded the second-fastest county hundred of the season. Earlier, the Welsh side had the visitors pinned back to 145 for five before the Australian came in with all guns blazing. When he was eventually dismissed, leg-before to Dean Cosker, he had scored 123 off 102 balls, in an innings which included 14 fours and four sixes. His stay at the crease included a 177-run stand for the sixth wicket, mainly with Christopher Taylor (74), who had to retire hurt. Andrew Davies claimed three for 90 as Gloucestershire were dismissed shortly before the close of play for 396. Steve James was caught by Jonathan Lewis off Andrew Smith for three in the third over as the hosts ended on six for one in reply.

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