Ashwell Prince and his Lancashire mates have much to do if they are to get anything from this match against Northamptonshire in the English County Championship.

The visitors declared their second innings closed at 283-9, just before the close of day three, setting Lancashire a target of 414. They successfully saw off the last six overs for 19.

But their seventh win of the season must seem an awfully long way away; as does what would be their third draw.

But Prince has stepped up before: He shared a stand of 116 for the third wicket in the first innings and ended with 83, which took him past the 1 000 runs mark for the season.

The Northants offering was notable for the fact that Richard Levi‘s great run came to a shuddering halt, lbw for 0 after scoring his highest first-class total (168) and three fifties in four innings

Nick Compton rounded off a highly satisfactory match, nudging Middlesex over the line with nine wickets in hand over Hampshire. His 87 in the first innings was the foundation of the Lord’s team’s 330, which gave them a healthy lead of 154. Hampshire were able to muster just 227 at the second time of asking, leaving Middlesex with a target of 74. Compton was unbeaten on 25 at the end.

Rikki Wessels added a solid 55 to his first-innings offering of  65 as Nottinghamshire put themselves into a strong position against Worcestershire. They ended their second inning on 366,  a lead of 324. At the close, Worcs were 13-0.

In the Caribbean, Robbie Peterson took 2-32 off four overs as St Lucia Zouks collapsed in the CPL, losing to the Barbados Tridents by 15 runs. Kevin Pietersen was run out for 1 and Henry Davids followed soon after for eight.

 Compiled by Mark Salter