Flintoff turns up heat

Andrew Flintoff and Sajid Mahmood did their England prospects no harm as Lancashire ripped through Hampshire to give themselves a chance of closing the gap on Nottinghamshire at the top of the LV County Championship.

The fast-bowling duo claimed two wickets apiece - with Glen Chapple also bagging a brace - as the home side slumped to 81 for seven in their second innings by tea on day three at the Rose Bowl.

It had all looked rosy for Hampshire before lunch when they took Lancashire's final five first-innings wickets for the addition of just 66 runs, the visitors finishing 295 all out.

But, looking to build a winning lead, the home side's advantage was just 113 with three wickets in hand.

There was more good news for Lancashire as Nottinghamshire crashed to 193 for six in their rain-affected match against Surrey .

The visitors' tail wagged this morning, with Chris Jordan (57) and Saqlain Mushtaq (50) taking Surrey's first-innings score to 403.

Notts lost wickets at regular intervals after lunch, with Will Jefferson (42) Samit Patel (40) making the biggest contribution with the bat.

Kent's Canterbury clash with Yorkshire was fascinatingly poised after the visitors reached tea on 75 for three in their second innings, an overall lead of 18 runs.

Kent were all out in their first innings for 467 in reply to Yorkshire's 410 all out, with Rob Key making 157 before being dismissed by Adil Rashid.

In the visitors' second innings, Andrew Gale (36) and Anthony McGrath (25) both got starts but failed to kick on.

Somerset cranked up the pressure on Durham in their rain-affected clash at the Riverside by reducing the home side to 181 for six.

The visitors declared their first innings on 352 for eight and all their bowlers then contributed as Durham slumped from 114 for two.

Openers Mark Stoneman (53) and Michael Di Venuto (40) were the only batsmen to impress.

In Division Two, Middlesex were on course to close the gap on leaders Warwickshire after skittling Gloucestershire for just 189.

Daniel Evans starred with five for 54, handing the visitors a first-innings lead of 111 at Bristol after they declared on 300 for seven. Middlesex's Eoin Morgan ended unbeaten on 137.

Varun Chopra (59), Jason Gallian (73) and Mark Pettini (52 not out) all made half-centuries as Essex built a lead of 131 over Glamorgan with six first-innings wickets still in hand.

Chopra fell this morning, with Gallian removed shortly after lunch as the visitors reached 263 for four at tea in Cardiff.

Graham Wagg was Derbyshire's hero as Leicestershire crashed to 189 all out after lunch at Derby.

The Foxes had been on 175 for six, responding to their opponents' first-innings 208.

But their final four wickets fell cheaply and Derbyshire were 47 for one in their second innings, an overall lead of 66 runs.

On the final day at New Road, Worcestershire and Northamptonshire were set for a draw after the home side reached 204 for four in their second innings, a lead of 73 runs with one session remaining.

Vikram Solanki starred with 114 for the home side.