Surrey were forced to settle for a draw at Taunton after setting Somerset 379 to win. A second century of the match from Matthew Wood (131) and 68 from Michael Burns gave the Cidermen brief hopes of victory before a flurry of wickets, four of them to Saqlain Mushtaq left them hanging on for a draw. Earlier Jonathan Batty continued his impressive batting form, making 151 to set up the Championship leaders' declaration.

Inevitably the rain over the past few days doomed some matches to draws. They included Hampshire against Sussex at The Rose Bowl after Hampshire, set 195 to win, closed on 56 for no wicket. At Maidstone, Min Patel took five for 32 as Warwickshire were bundled out for 172 in reply to Kent's 306, but a result never looked feasible and Kent eventually declared on 118 for five. Time also ran out at Grace Road, despite Devon Malcolm taking five for 52 to shoot out Lancashire for 180. The game ended when the hosts declared on 206 for four.

In Division Two, Glamorgan beat the leaders, Essex, by eight wickets at Swansea. Simon Jones (five for 28) completed the rout of Essex for just 139 in their second innings, leaving the hosts needing just 112 for victory. Captain Steve James (56) ensured a steady march to the target.

Northants contrived a thrilling win over Durham after the two captains each forfeited an innings in pursuit of a result. An 82-ball innings of 109 from Graeme Swann was they key to Northants' win, although David Sales (74) and Tony Penberthy (47) helped to lay the foundations.

Gloucestershire managed to hold on for a draw at Derby, thanks to an innings of 95 from Craig Spearman. After Dominic Cork (67) helped to give Derbyshire a first-innings lead of 219, Gloucestershire had passed that figure by the time Spearman was out, forcing a draw with the Second Division's third-placed team.

A century for Paul Weekes ensured a draw for Middlesex against Worcestershire at Lord's. Weekes made an unbeaten 127 to enable Middlesex to declare at 417 for eight in reply to Worcestershire's first-innings 503. Abdur Razzaq and Phil Tufnell then shared the wickets as Worcestershire closed on 99 for five.

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