Mike Procter - what a brilliant player he was!

Don Topley
BBC Essex

Resuming this morning and wanting 195 further runs with all 10 wickets intact, Essex hoped for a calm fourth-day chase to victory.

It quickly became a stormy first hour as veteran swing bowler Keith Barker claimed three wickets in an over, to give Warwickshire a distinct advantage.

Barker had Dean Elgar lbw, playing no shot, for a duck and nightwatchman Sam Cook was caught at cover driving, whilst Charlie Allison was clean bowled for nought from around the wicket by Barker - all in just the second over of the day.

Ethan Bamber then joined ‘Barker’s party’, as Matt Critchley cut a ball too early, and played into the air at cover (a similar dismissal to the first innings but behind square) and Paul Walter’s stoic effort of eight runs in an hour ended when he was unable to clear Barker at mid-on off Ed Barnard.

Luc Benkenstein commenced his innings nervously but did manage to get to lunch on 37, together with Michael Pepper on nine - Essex require another 126 to win and remain in rough seas!

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

Image source, Shutterstock

Tom Abell has been holding this Somerset run-chase together, as three wickets have fallen around him in a tense morning session.

James Rew added only a single to his overnight 58 before 'nicking off' to Kyle Abbott, but Will Smeed seemed to be going well when he chased a wide one and was caught at point, before Craig Overton gave Liam Dawson the charge and was bowled.

That leaves Abell batting with his captain, Lewis Gregory, and on the outcome of their partnership this game will probably depend.

Image source, Getty Images

Sam Robson and Max Holden's partnership of 165, which ended just before lunch when Holden (pictured) was bowled for 86, looks to have ended any chance Northamptonshire had of opening up this game.

What a morning in Birmingham, which has ripped this game wide open.

The drama started in the second over of the day, Keith Barker taking three wickets - he had Dean Elgar trapped lbw when offering no shot, induced an uppish drive from nightwatchman Sam Cook which went to cover, and then bowled Charlie Allison.

Ethan Bamber accounted for Matt Critchley, who cut him to cover, before Luc Benkenstein survived a delivery that rolled back on to his stumps but didn't dislodge the bails.

He and Paul Walter dug in before the latter presented Barker with a catch at mid off.

Benkenstein is still there, on 37 not out, and much will depend on him as Essex's seemingly chaseable target of 206 suddenly seems a little way in the distance.

Wicket-keeper Michael Pepper is supporting Benkenstein, on 9 not out from 38 balls.

The visitors need 126 more to win.

We will have a conclusion - but not before lunch - the players and umpires are walking off with Lancashire needing just another 14 runs remaining to box off back-to-back County Championship victories.

What an enthralling first session on the final day in Southampton.

We've had pretty much everything in the first two hours of play at the Utilita Bowl.

James Rew was caught behind after excellent bowling from Kyle Abbott - who put on a masterclass with his opening spell of the day.

Tom Abell has settled well but has seen partners come and go with Will Smeed and Craig Overton walking from and then walking back to the pavilion as Hampshire smelt blood.

The visitors will hope Lewis Gregory can put in a captain's performance, alongside Abell, after lunch - they require another 64 runs to win with just four wickets remaining.

It remains on a knife edge.

Grace Ballinger
The Blaze and Manchester Super Giants seamer

Baker bowls a fiery over at Abell, who is 64*.

He gets the short balls up there but Abell takes it on, playing the pull shot with composure.

Abell's innings continues confidently. Not sure I would fancy Baker bowling it at my nose!

What was that from Luc Benkenstein? With lunch looming, he has, for a reason only known to himself, gone after one from Beau Webster, attempting to pull but only cue-ending it to mid off. Fortunately for him, it evades a fielder.

Benkenstein has already seen a ball roll on to his stumps but not remove the bails. He is living a charmed existence but, crucially for Essex, is still there.

Dropped catchpublished at 13:02 BST 20 April

13:02 BST 20 April

Hants v Somerset 222-6 - target 287

What an opportunity right on the stroke of lunch.

Lewis Gregory edges one and Ben Brown, stood up to him, gets a glove to it but can't cling on.

Moments later - Ben Mayes catches at short leg but the umpire shakes his head - there is no bat involved this time.

Tom Prest is causing problems with the final over before the 40-minute interval.

Two boundaries in the over for Arav Shetty - the second is a little streaky but Shetty plays with soft hands to run one down to the vacant third man boundary for four.

Lancashire need just another 23 runs now if my maths is correct.

A welcome boundary for the visitors.

Lewis Gregory puts away a short, wide delivery from Sonny Baker back of square for four.

A maiden over from Liam Dawson is applauded by his Hampshire teammates in the field.

Bit of admin to tell you about, captain Lewis Gregory is now at the crease with Tom Abell who probably wishes a partner will stick around with him for more than a half hour.

Somerset need to get through to lunch without losing another wicket.

As Grace noted (12:39 BST), Ed Barnard is keeping it tight. He bowls yet another maiden - his sixth in a row - to keep the squeeze on Essex.

Michael Pepper has at least got off a pair. He got a single from Nathan Gilchrist, from the 24th ball he had faced.

Huge bottom edge from Keaton Jennings which goes so close to his off stump.

Gabe Bell is on his haunches. He can't believe Jennings hasn't played on.

Instead the opener scampers through for a single.

Both Keith Barker and Ed Barnard struck in their first over of the day - and Jordan Thompson almost repeats the trick!

He's brought on to relieve Nathan Gilchrist and gets one to nip back and keep low, as it narrowly beats both Luc Benkenstein's outside edge and off stump.

Lancashire have settled things down following Matty Hurst's wicket and Arav Shetty looks good for his 10 not out.

The target has been reduced down to just 37 now.

Grace Ballinger
The Blaze and Manchester Super Giants seamer

Ed Barnard is forcing pressure onto the Essex batters - Pepper currently 0* off 23 balls.

The Warwickshire skipper has bowled five overs and is yet to concede a run, and has even taken the wicket of Walter along the way!

Gilchrist threatened the outside edge at the other end, but also released some pressure with boundary deliveries. He went for 19 off his five overs but has now been replaced by Jordan Thompson.

A single for Sam Robson takes the partnership between him and Max Holden to 150.

They came together yesterday when Josh De Caires was trapped lbw by Luke Proctor at the end of the 17th over.

The two batters now both have 78, and those 150 runs have been scored in 43 overs.