County cricket - as it happened

10.40am: Welcome to the county cricket live blog for the latest round of Championship action. Our writers will be here with all the day's play shortly. Richard Rae is watching Sussex v Somerset at Hove, while Mark Pennell will be at Canterbury for Kent v Derbyshire. If you're here before them, you can have a read of yesterday's match reports. Enjoy.

10.41am: Rain is not going to save Somerset at Hove this morning, reports Richard Rae under the cloudless Sussex sky. In fact the late clatter of wickets on Thursday afternoon, when Somerset slipped from 147-0 to 155-4 means no-one is anticipating the finish being delayed beyond lunchtime.

Chatting to Murray Goodwin after the close was an enlightening experience after what was billed as his farewell. The Zimbabwean wasn't a particularly happy man – while he appreciated Sussex flying his parents over, he clearly felt poorly treated, claiming to have been told not much more than a month ago he figured in the county's plans for next season, before abruptly learning last Sunday he didn't.

If it's been a ploy on Sussex's part to secure his services next season at a much reduced rate, as some feel, it's a remarkably elaborate one - but whatever, he is refusing to rule out a return, referring to budgetary considerations and saying he at least would still be prepared to negotiate.

10.43am: Another glorious morning in Canterbury where Kent, on their final day's action at home this summer, will be doing their utmost to topple Division 2 leaders Derbyshire, writes Mark Pennell.

The visitors have resumed on their overnight position of 30 for one and face an unlikely victory target of 404 against a side eager to improve upon their current third place. Though he has 50 championship wickets to his name thus far, Charlie Shreck has enjoyed little or no luck in this game and once again beat the outside edge without joy in his opening over from the Pavilion End in starting with a maiden. Mark Davies, fresh from his maiden five-wicket haul for Kent in the first innings, looked a little on the stiff side as he struggled to get the ball down with a modicum of pace in his warm-up over from the Nackington Road End. It proved to be a maiden nonetheless.

11.55am: Division Two leaders Derbyshire have lost their first wicket of the day, this after appearing to be fully prepared to 'dog it out' for a draw after scoring only 26 runs in the opening 70 minutes' play, writes Mark Pennell.

Paul Borrington and Usman Khawaja mustered only a boundary apiece in the same period against some disciplined Kentish bowling from Mark Davies and Charlie Shreck, who were signed from Durham and Nottinghamshire respectively. Most definitely east of the River Medway. Davies had short spells at both ends, indeed he proved so accurate that Kent captain Rob Key was able to set an 8-1 off-side field when switching Davies to the pavilion end.

England Lions paceman Matt Coles was introduced down the Nackington Road slope and had an immediate impact, snaring Paul Borrington leg before with a quick full one that trapped the right-hander on the crease to make it 57 for two. Derbyshire need 404 for victory.

12.41pm: Well, that was unexpected, writes Richard Rae at Hove. Those who thought Somerset would roll over this morning, and that's quite a lot of people, have been confounded by a sterling effort by James Hildreth and, until he was dismissed by Steve Magoffin after Sussex took the new ball, Alex Barrow. Playing sensibly and carefully, they took the score from an overnight 155-4 to 231 before Barrow edged Magoffin to first slip, where Matt Prior took an excellent low catch.

Barrow was Magoffin's 54th championship wicket of the season, at less than 20 apiece - the Queenslander has been outstanding this season, and has now drawn level with Andre Adams and Keith Barker in terms of wickets taken. Somerset are 252-5 at lunch, Hildreth on 56, and need another 144 to win.

1.53pm: Derbyshire have lost two wickets in the first session at Canterbury and go in for their sandwiches on 83 for three, writes Mark Pennell.

Matt Coles, the England Lions quick bowler, took both wickets to fall in near identical fashion. Paul Borrington was trapped on the crease by a full, quick one, the same style of delivery that accounted for Wes Durston, as he aimed across the line to go for eight and make it 69-3.
Dan Redford might also have gone without scoring when he fenced one from Coles into the gulley, but Sam Northeast was unable to cling on to a stinging catch high to his right.

Derbyshire require a further 321 for victory, though they appear to have their sights set on survival and a draw that will retain their leadership in Division 2.

2.22pm: Kent appear to be heading toward victory against Division 2 leaders Derbyshire, a result that will ensure the three-club county championship promotion race will go into next week's the final round of games, writes Mark Pennell.

The hosts have taken three wickets since lunch included the prized scalp of Usman Khawaja who played down the wrong line to a Darren Stevens in-ducker to go leg before. He had scored 53 in three-and-a-half hours. Eight balls later Dan Redfern pushed toward backward point and set off for a single, only to leave his partner Ross Whiteley high and dry when left-handed Brendan Nash swooped to complete the run out with a direct hit.

Still troubled by the dismissal, Redfern went soon after for 21, when he aimed a push drive against Stevens only to edge to the keeper Geraint Jones who took a fine catch in one glove when tumbling to his left. At 113 for six, Derbyshire's victory target of 404 appears a lifetime away, and it is Kent who sniff the chance of their fourth win of the summer.

5.10pm: And that's it for the county liveblog for the day – the comments will stay open for any more reports and debates.

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