County Championship, day three as it happened: Baker five-for, Smith fails twice and Essex win

Summary

Day three of nine matches
Essex win by seven wickets after bowling out Leicestershire for 60
Harry Brook takes three wickets, including Jamie Smith, as Surrey follow-on against Yorkshire
Sonny Baker returns 5-45 for Hampshire against 2025 champions Notts
Sussex's Daniel Hughes scores 107 against Somerset at Taunton
Glamorgan build 300-run lead against Warwickshire
Gloucestershire set Northamptonshire a target of 249 in Bristol
Middlesex only 79 ahead with two wickets left against Derbyshire
No play possible in Kent's game with Durham at Beckenham

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Live Reporting

Matthew Cresswell, Ben Pheazey, Chris Harby and Paul Grunill

Close of play at Lord'spublished at 18:13 BST 17 May
Middlesex 177 & 278-8 v Derbyshire 376

Rain follows the bad light at Lord's so they are done for the day at the home of cricket.
Middlesex have scored 265 runs today - 95 of them by captain Leus du Plooy - but they lost five wickets in the process and are only 79 ahead after trailing by 199 on first innings.
Derbyshire will very much be fancying their chances of wrapping up a second successive win on the final day.
Ben Aitchison has 3-53 in this innings, giving him eight wickets in the match to go with his century.
WICKETpublished at 18:11 BST 17 May
Simpson c&b Vaughan 6 (Somerset 526-8 dec v Sussex 212-6)
Melinda Farrell
Sports broadcaster/journalist on BBC Radio Somerset

"I don't think I've ever seen John Simpson get out like that."

WICKETpublished at 18:09 BST 17 May
Simpson c&b Vaughan 6 (Somerset 526-8 dec v Sussex 212-6)

Image source, Shutterstock
Goodness me! John Simpson has fenced at a ball from off spinner Archie Vaughan and hit the ball straight back to him!
He barely moved in front of the crease.
How did that happen? Charlie Tear is in.
WICKETpublished at 18:07 BST 17 May
Thomas c Luxton b Brook 1 (Yorkshire v Surrey 57-5 f/o - trail by 225)

We can't keep up here. Harry Brook has three-for!
Short of a length this time and there's a bit of movement and Adam Thomas goes after it.
He can only spank it straight to Will Luxton at point who makes a good catch high up over his head. Extraordinary.
The following delivery from Brook then finds the outside edge of new-man in Josh Blake but Jonny Bairstow diving to his left drops it behind the wicket!
What is going on here?!?!

Postpublished at 18:06 BST 17 May
Northants 80-4 - target - 249 to beat Gloucs

The pressure is on Nathan McSweeney and James Sales to take Northants to stumps, though that is quite a way away, with 46 overs earmarked for the session.
This is the 28th. A touch short from Craig Miles and a short arm jab from Nathan McSweeney through mid wicket for four.
18 overs remain tonight.
150 up for Warwickshirepublished at 18:03 BST 17 May
Warks 252 v Glam 360 & 150-4

Colin Ingram pinches a single off Jordan Thompson through the covers as the Glamorgan score ticks over to 150.
A cracking recovery from 13-3 when things were beginning to look dicey.
Ingram has really drawn the sting out of the home attack. The lead is now 258 with plenty still in the tank for the visitors.

Postpublished at 18:03 BST 17 May
Somerset 526-8 dec v Sussex 211-5

John Simpson is forward to Archie Vaughan, defending the off spinner into the on side.
14 overs left tonight if the weather and light will hold.
WICKETpublished at 18:02 BST 17 May
Lawrence b Revis 1 (Yorkshire v Surrey 56-4 f/o - trail by 226)

And another! And another! Incredible stuff here for Yorkshire - it's all happening for them now.
Dan Lawrence is so unlucky here.
Matthew Revis races in and its a good length ball.
Lawrence plays late into the ground but the ball somehow goes in front of him before bouncing up above the height of the stumps and taking the bails of his leg stump - extraordinary bad luck, the spin was not his friend there.
Lawrence can not believe it!

WICKETpublished at 18:01 BST 17 May
Bartlett c Price b Bell 14 (Northants 76-4 - target - 249 to beat Gloucs)

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A let off for George Bartlett who is miles across his stumps to the bowling of Gabe Bell, edging wide of the slips for four.
That may have bounced just in front but it was certainly close.
Bartlett sways out of the way of a bumper.
Edged again and this time caught at first slip!
Squared up and that flew to Ollie Price, who tumbles back and holds on.
James Sales joins Nathan McSweeney in the middle.
50 up for Surreypublished at 17:59 BST 17 May
Yorkshire v Surrey 52-3 f/o - trail by 232 runs

Into their 20th over, Surrey finally tick on to 50 as Dan Lawrence gets off the mark.
There are then huge shouts of catch as there is a fly leg slip in place but it goes down to fine leg for single.
It's all happening for Harry Brook here at the moment. We doubt he's had a better bowling spell in his career than this.

Postpublished at 17:57 BST 17 May
Somerset 526-8 dec v Sussex 209-5

John Simpson is off the mark with a clip through square leg for four off Tom Lammonby, who removed Dan Hughes and Jack Leaning in this session of play.
The deficit is 317.
Postpublished at 17:55 BST 17 May
Northants 72-3 - target - 249 to beat Gloucs

A fascinatingly poised game and one can only hope the forecast tomorrow is not as bad as feared.
George Bartlett gets a ball from Craig Miles just past a diving Cam Bancroft at leg gully for one.

Rain stops play at the Utilita Bowlpublished at 17:53 BST 17 May
Hants 214 & 82-4 v Notts 229

A rare attacking stroke as Jake Lehmann pounces on a little width from Lyndon James and drives through the covers for four.
Talking of covers....
The rain has returned and we'll have another delay. Boo!
WICKETpublished at 17:52 BST 17 May
Leaning b Lammonby 31 (Somerset 526-8 dec v Sussex 205-5)
Melinda Farrell
Sports broadcaster/journalist on BBC Radio Somerset

"I'm flummoxed that we haven't seen him (Lammonby) before."

WICKETpublished at 17:52 BST 17 May
Smith b Brook 0 (Yorkshire v Surrey 49-3 f/o - trail by 233)

A double-wicket maiden for Harry Brook and he gets the wicket of his England team-mate Jamie Smith!
After having to dig one out with the previous delivery, Smith is bowled all ends up seeing his off stump dislodged by Brook.
Smith just played at completely the wrong line - there's not much swing here at all.
Brook doesn't care though as he wheels away in delight.
WICKETpublished at 17:51 BST 17 May
Leaning b Lammonby 31 (Somerset 526-8 dec v Sussex 205-5)

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Tom Lammonby strikes again - and this one is a corker!
left arm angle, coming across and curving back in to clip the top of middle stump.
Absolute poetry in motion.
Jack Leaning departs and Sussex keeper John Simpson is in.
Lammonby should bowl more often.

Postpublished at 17:51 BST 17 May
Warks 252 v Glam 360 & 145-4

We have an eighth six of the day as Sean Dickson clobbers Beau Webster into the Hollies.
The Glamorgan lead climbs above 250 with six wickets in hand.
Postpublished at 17:50 BST 17 May
Hants 214 & 76-4 v Notts 229

The skies around the Utilita Bowl are darkening slightly, prompting the umpires to take out the light meter.
We play on and there's almost a calamitous run out as Jake Lehmann nudges into the legside and sets off for a single.
Haseeb Hameeb picks up and throws with Ben Brown having given up. Luckily for him the throw is wild and Notts miss their chance.

WICKETpublished at 17:48 BST 17 May
Patel c Cliff b Brook 13 (Yorkshire v Surrey 49-2 f/o - trail by 233)

Harry Brook does the job for Yorkshire - Surrey lose their second!
It's wide outside off stump and Ryan Patel goes after it but can only hit it in the air straight to Ben Cliff who makes a simple catch.
Brook's 10th first-class wicket and what a time to get it. His first delivery to England teammate Jamie Smith then stays low which Smith stops right in front of his pads.
Postpublished at 17:48 BST 17 May
Northants 71-3 - target - 249 to beat Gloucs

George Bartlett blocks Will Williams down the ground.
Maiden over. Craig Miles is into his second over of the innings and Nathan McSweeney taps a single to Gabe Bell on the leg side.