Tea at Southport and Worcestershire are close to safety in this one.

An impressive effort from Lancashire, spearheaded by a lung-busting spell from 43-year-old James Anderson, who has 2-27, as Tom Hartley also picked up two wickets in an over.

Brett D'Oliveira (27*) and Matthew Waite (26*) have proved stubborn resistance since then though and it is looking increasingly likely we will be shaking hands in about an hour's time for a draw.

Back in 20 minutes on the seaside.

It's a slow outfield due to some heavy rain at Southport and, on any other day, Matthew Waite would have had four more but his paddle down to wide third man only brings about a couple.

One more over from Tom Hartley before tea as Worcestershire's lead nears 150.

Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle

Durham have avoided the follow-on thanks to a great 10th-wicket stand from Ben Raine and Callum Parkinson.

They reached 374-9 just as a spot of rain brought about an early tea at 3.22pm.

Raine has 64 and Parkinson 32. The partnership is worth 86 from 145 balls. A fourth batting point is 26 runs away and that's what this game is now about. There are 44 overs left in the final day.

Nottinghamshire's enthusiasm at the Utilita Bowl appears to be dwindling.

Jake Lehmann has played a superb hand. He moves onto 88 with a smart cut off Josh Tongue, who then sends a beauty past the bat of Felix Organ and into the gloves of Kyle Verreynne.

There are 36 overs remaining in Southampton and Hants' lead is now 153.

Three slips in.

There are one or two brollies up in the stands... But we're staying on with about 10 minutes before the scheduled tea interval.

We get through three balls of the Migael Pretorius over... The umpires chat again as the rain gets heavier and we play on.

Single to Fynn Hudson-Prentice, beating the return throw.

John Simpson plays around his pad to block and sees out the over.

It's clouding over here and the Quantocks are barely visible from the ground as Alfie Ogborne comes into the attack from the River End.

A vicious bumper just evades Fynn Hudson-Prentice on its way to keeper James Rew.

FHP finds a gap on the leg side and is slow to run, only just making his ground - and in fact he would've been out had Jordan Hermann hit with his return throw. Comfortably so.

A bit odd. James Rew takes a bumper from behind the stumps and throws the ball up in the air, which dips and hits Lewis Gregory's head at first slip.

He is OK, thank goodness.

150 up for Worcestershirepublished at 15:28 BST 18 May

15:28 BST 18 May

Lancs v Worcs 150-5 - lead by 139

How have Lancashire missed out here? A lovely flighted delivery from Chris Green and Matthew Waite edges.

It somehow perfectly dissects wicket-keeper Matty Hurst and James Anderson who is narrowly next to him at first slip and goes for four. Green can't believe it as he stands with his hands on his head.

That bit of luck for Worcestershire brings up their 150.

Image source, Shutterstock

Lancashire could really do with breaking this partnership.

Tom Hartley has not looked as threatening in his first over back into the attack and his dragged down delivery is easily whipped away through the leg side to the boundary by Matthew Waite who moves onto 17*.

Chris Green will provide further spin from the other end.

John Simpson plays around his front pad as he defends Migael Pretorius to Tom Lammonby at mid on.

He shoulders arms to a short, wider ball.

Simpson runs the last ball off the face of the bat to deep third for four.

Rain stops play at Beckenhampublished at 15:24 BST 18 May

15:24 BST 18 May

Kent 523 v Durham 374-9

A couple of runs for Ben Raine and Durham make sure of avoiding the follow-on - and then rain arrives, prompting the umpires to take the teams off the field.

It's been a superb effort by Durham's last-wicket pair, adding 86 so far, with Raine 64 not out and Callum Parkinson on 32.

Tea will be taken.

John Simpson gets a single off Jack Leach with a glance to leg to take Sussex to the 100-mark in 51 overs.

But of course it is time and wickets that matter most at this stage.

The floodlights remain on - and here comes Migael Pretorius to bowl the next over.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

"Let there be light! Will they stay on though? That is the question."

Another umpire chat. Perhaps Somerset want to bring a quicker bowler on? No idea. We're playing on anyway.

Archie Vaughan will continue with his off spin. The flow of runs have virtually stopped completely as Sussex try to eat up the remaining overs.

42 left after this one. Fynn Hudson-Prentice blocks out a maiden over and the floodlights are back!

A lovely shot from Matthew Waite down the ground for four.

He timed that straight drive perfectly - barely having to follow through as the ball gracefully found the middle of the bat.

In fact it's a front foot no-ball from George Balderson so that will be six onto the total. 40 overs left at Southport.

John Simpson waits for Jack Leach and blocks carefully down the ground.

We now have four fielders crowding around the bat. Forward short leg, leg slip, first slip and silly mid off. No pressure then.

Simpson defends, head right over the line of the ball.

In the battle of cricket versus rain, the inclement weather has now come out on top.

Tea has been taken early at Edgbaston in the hope that we can return to the field of play sometime later this evening, though you would fear - judging by the efforts of the ground-staff currently - we might have to wait a while to see any more cricket, if at all.

Back to back Championship wins for Derbyshire - that should make head of cricket Mickey Arthur very happy indeed, having also celebrated his birthday on Sunday.

After Wayne Madsen drives Zafar Gohar to the boundary, there is an anti-climactic finish as he misses an attempted sweep and the ball runs away for four byes.

Madsen finishes 31 not out, with Matt Montgomery on 21, the pair putting on 53 together after Naavya Sharma removed Harry Came and Caleb Jewell in the same over.

Undoubted star of the game, though, was Ben Aitchison, with eight wickets and a maiden first-class century to help Derbyshire pick up 22 points.

Fynn Hudson-Prentice pushes Archie Vaughan out to extra cover for a couple of runs. He's off the mark.

FHP turns a ball into the on side and it is stopped by Jordan Hermann.

A shorter ball almost gets through the Sussex number eight but he survives.