Nottinghamshire need just 112 more to beat Lancashire with nine wickets in hand after Charlie Shreck took 5-40. Elsewhere, Yorkshire crumbled but Adil Rashid scored a brilliant fighting 70.

Fearsome fast bowling from Charlie Shreck left Nottinghamshire needing just 145 to beat Lancashire and reassert their position at the top of LV County Championship Division One.

Graham Onions’ first five-wicket haul for a year helped give Durham a lead of over 200 on Yorkshire, who were indebted to young all-rounder Adil Rashid's rearguard innings of 70.

Hampshire captain Dimitri Mascarenhas is banking on the extended permission initially promised by chairman Rod Bransgrove to ensure he can return to the Indian Premier League this month.

LV County champions Sussex were still 538 runs in arrears as the weather played havoc with the second day’s play in their match against Somerset at Taunton.

In a match featuring ten South Africans, English batsmen David Sales and Rob White guided Northamptonshire to relative safety at 276 for three before rain prompted stumps at Grace Road.

Somerset build up a commanding 538-run lead against Sussex by the end of a second day curtailed by the weather.

Graham Onions' first five-wicket haul for a year puts Durham in command against Yorkshire at Chester-le-Street.

Gareth Rees and David Hemp club centuries as Glamorgan move into a healthy position after two days against Derbyshire.

Aggressive bowling from Charlie Shreck leaves Nottinghamshire on the brink of a three-day victory over Lancashire at Trent Bridge.

Hampshire struggle to 204-7 in reply to Surrey's 278 on day two at the Rose Bowl.

Simon Jones takes three of the four Gloucestershire wickets to fall as the visitors are bowled out for 444 on a rainy day two at Worcester.

Tyron Henderson, the Cape Cobras allrounder, has rejoined Middlesex to help the club out during their injury problems.

He previously played for Middlesex last year and will be available for the Twenty20 Cup group stages where is big-hitting and hit-the-deck seam bowling will come in useful.

Jonathan Clare, the Derbyshire allrounder, has signed a new contract to take him through to the end of the 2009 season with a clause to extend it for a further year.

Clare has been in good form after breaking into the Derbyshire team early this season with five wickets at 18 and 157 runs at 78.50 in two Championship matches.

“Becoming a professional cricketer with Derbyshire was a dream come true and now having the security of at least two full seasons in which to prove myself is great for me," Clare said. “I have worked hard at my game since signing the initial contract and I will continue to do so as I aim for a successful career with Derbyshire.”

Head of cricket John Morris said: “I am delighted that Jonathan has signed a new and extended contract because he is a talented young cricketer and a potential star of the future.

“Having broken into the team and showed so much promise at the end of last season and earned his first professional contract, Jonathan has worked very hard on his game and has earned this extended deal.”

Chris Schofield faces six weeks on the sidelines after having surgery on his broken left thumb. He sustained the injury while fielding to his own bowling during Surrey's Friends Provident Trophy win over Sussex at Hove.

Liam Plunkett, the Durham quick bowler, could be out of action for as long as six weeks after picking up a side strain.

It is a blow for Plunkett who has been trying to re-establish himself among the next batch of England quick bowlers after slipping off the international radar since last summer.

Navdeep Poonia will help Scotland by filling in for their captain Ryan Watson in the FPT double-header at the weekend, away at Derbyshire and Lancashire. Warwickshire agreed to loan the big-hitting Poonia, who has played for Scotland's international side, as Watson is expecting the birth of his first child any time.

How do you get from the Brit Oval to Lord's without crossing the Thames? Six intrepid cyclists are about to prove it can be done and all in a good cause.

They are cycling from Kennington to St John's Wood the long way round, taking in all 18 first-class county headquarters - a trip of more than 1,000 miles over 16 days.

The tour has been devised by two cricket writers who spend most of their time pedalling opinions on the game: David Lloyd of the London Evening Standard and Colin Bateman of the Daily Express.