Kent battled back into their LV County Championship clash at Sussex, but still had much to do to avoid defeat against the champions.

The visitors resumed in a tricky position on 65 for six at Hove, trailing by 238, but discarded England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones gave them hope in a plucky last-wicket stand with Yasir Arafat.

Jones finished unbeaten on 51 after he and Arafat (46) put on 82 to get Kent within 99 runs.

The early removal of both openers then gave Kent further reason for optimism as Sussex slipped to 36 for two in their second innings.

Rain stopped play in the other First Division games, with Lancashire's clash with Somerset at Old Trafford not seeing a ball bowled before the time of the scheduled tea interval.

Yorkshire were in control at Headingley after Matthew Hoggard's six for 57 pushed Hampshire towards the follow-on.

Hoggard struck with the first ball of the day to add Nic Pothas to his five victims, with his team-mates then finishing off the visitors for 159.

Hampshire were then 25 without loss second time around, still trailing by 214, when the weather intervened.

Surrey lost six wickets for 60 runs today - and eight for 66 overall - as they were shot out for 183 to hand Durham a first-innings lead of 41 at the Riverside.

Graham Onions finished with four for 73 and Neil Killeen three for 40 while England paceman Steve Harmison removed the only man to offer resistance in Ali Brown (38).

Durham were 76 for two in their second innings.

In the Second Division, Northamptonshire were building up a sizeable advantage over Warwickshire at Wantage Road.

Ian Salisbury (54 not out) and Neil Carter (47) put on 82 for the eighth wicket as the Warwickshire tail wagged, but their dismissal for 243 still left them 142 in arrears.

Stephen Peters was 37 not out as Northants pushed on to 58 for one in their bid to set a big target.

Derbyshire were 205 for seven in their response to Essex' s 270 at Derby after 49 from John Sadler.

Tim Murtagh had taken six for 86 to put Middlesex on the brink of claiming a first-innings lead over Glamorgan at Lord's.

Jamie Dalrymple hit 80 and Michael Powell 50 as Glamorgan looked to overhaul the Middlesex 308, but Murtagh's efforts saw them slip to 252 for nine.

There was further rain disruption at New Road, where Leicestershire were 106 for four after Worcestershire declared on 300 for eight.

SportingLife / Eurosport