Hants only need 4 points (I think) to secure runners up slot. So they will be happy to play out a draw or score over 300 in first innings.

We have declared - Hants to face a few overs tonight - be great to get a couple of wickets

Gloucs getting away from Yorks now and still only 5 wickets down. Looks like there will be more play tonight - but how much?

We were 15 behind Yorks before this round of games started. Yorks getting 3 bowling puts them 18 ahead. Assuming they then lose and Warks win then us having 2 batting points already means we only need 1 bowling point to put us ahead of Yorks. Lots of ifs and maybe's but that's the joy of cricket

Should we declare now and have the rest of the day to get a few wickets?

Perhaps maybe declare at tea to avoid losing the overs between innings

Well certainly having a go and losing wickets in the process. Even Mousley ran to the wicket when he came in ! Warks certainly in a hurry now.

Good point. Perhaps throw the bat for a quick 50 or so and then declare with plenty of overs left today - weather permitting. Will we have enough DAYS left to get 20 wickets though???!!

And it's raining again at 59 overs!!

All accademic as our game is heading for a draw now - only just about to bowl the 60th over of the match after a day and a half.

Mad - I like your alternative view to the make up of the cricket season except for......... For the CC to be a fair and level competition it needs to be set up so that each team plays all the others in the league. Therefore 2 divisions of 9 = returning to 16 matches.

Your April/May has 24 days of cricket so could easily accommodate more red ball. Likewise June July has 22 days of cricket so could easily cope with more red ball.

It seems crazy to me that in the desire for a more successful test team the ECB want less red ball games and more slog fest. You would think they would be striving to find ways to play more!

It seems strange to me that the counties make way for franchised teams to play in what could be the most well attended month of the season. All those grounds that remained empty for virtually the whole of August seems crazy.

100 opening partnership, Yates 50. Unlike all you doomsters I never doubted them for one minute.

( Tongue now being removed from cheek)

Put in to bat - opening partnership now over 50 at over 3.5 an over!!!!! Unbelievable

Kent have a bowling point too ! Still no play at Edg

Please explain why players need week long breaks in a season of only 6 months. If the gap was closed between games a full red ball season could be restored (i.e.16 games). One way would be to play the T20 alongside the CC - either the day before or the day after. After all supporters enjoyed the Sunday league coming in the middle of a CC game

Need to break this partnership very quickly

Dissent from Gloucs batsman this time. Slow mo on You Tube indicates it came off his arm and not glove. Still it goes someway to evening it up!

27-3 Could we, could we?

27-3 Could we, could we?

Of course the umpires have a better view then we have. However, the immediate reaction of players to being given out says a lot. As umpires will not change their decision they can't be cheating in their reaction.