Somerset lead title chase

Somerset have the destiny of the LV= County Championship title in their own hands after taking a hefty first-innings lead against Durham at the Riverside.

Having dismissed their hosts for 286 at Chester-le-Street, Somerset pushed on from their overnight 226 for four to reach 426 on the back of James Hildreth's 105 and a rapid 69 from Peter Trego. Ben Harmison took four for 94.

But Durham held them up as their top order dug in to reach the close at 171 for two, Michael Di Venuto making 84 not out.

With Lancashire rain continuing to frustrate Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire appear the likeliest challengers to Somerset.

Nottinghamshire were unable to advance from their overnight 89 for two as no play was possible at Old Trafford, and coach Mick Newell told Sky Sports: "Our only hope is if Somerset don't win, and we could get there with the bonus points - but we'd have to score 400 pretty quickly or maybe have some kind of a run chase with Lancashire."

Yorkshire conceded a first-innings lead of 41 to Kent as Alex Blake's maiden first-class century proved a source of frustration.

The 21-year-old had never even made a half-century in four-day cricket before today, when he resumed on 40 and pushed on to 105 not out to see his side to 302, despite Moin Ashraf taking a superb five for 32 in only his second championship appearance.

Yorkshire were 51 for one, 10 ahead, by the close as they sought to set a victory target, with Adam Lyth 26 not out.

Kent's survival fight is the other sub-plot to the match, but Warwickshire are bidding to make their result irrelevant by beating Hampshire and took a first-innings lead of 85 as well as three batting points.

Ian Bell's 104 helped the Bears make 303 all out before play was ended for the day by bad light.