Jamie Dalrymple

Middlesex missed an opportunity to take full advantage of near perfect batting conditions against Surrey at Lord's

It was a tale of two centuries, an exciting game in glorious September sunshine, everything except a Hampshire vistory

Lancashire 368 for 5 v Sussex at Old Trafford Scorecard The champagne in the Sussex dressing-room will have to wait for at least one more day as Lancashire and the rain further prolonged their wait for that elusive maiden Championship title

Surrey's stand-in captain Mark Butcher on his way to an unbeaten 117 against Kent at The Oval Surrey 245 for 3 v Kent at The Oval Scorecard Mark Butcher led from the front with an unbeaten century as Surrey ended a stop-start day

Essex 7 for 0 v Kent 381 at Chelmsford Scorecard David Fulton celebrated his return to the Kent side by making 93 in only his second Championship appearance of the summer as Kent ended the day in a good position at Chelmsford

A rousing finish at Lord's saw Middlesex home by three wickets with just a ball to spare in their Norwich Union League game with Lancashire