Morne Morkel excelled with the ball as Surrey bounced back to take control of their Specsavers County Championship clash with Yorkshire at Scarborough.

The former South Africa fast bowler finished with five for 39 from 16 overs as Yorkshire were bowled out for 152 in their second innings, setting the visitors a victory target of 228.

And they made a strong start before close on day three by reaching 89 without loss.

Captain Rory Burns confidently led the way with 55 not out and Mark Stoneman was unbeaten on 32, his highest score of 2018.

Lancashire and Hampshire look destined to play out a draw at Emirates Old Trafford.

Centuries from Alex Davies (115) and Dane Vilas (134) saw the hosts rack up 411 in their first innings, 40 short of Hampshire’s 451.

The visitors then reached 66 for two second time around at stumps – 106 runs ahead.

Worcestershire face a tough challenge on the final day if they are to avoid defeat against Nottinghamshire in their day/night match at Trent Bridge.

Set an improbable target of 462 from a minimum of 113 overs, they reached the close of the third day unscathed on 43 without loss.

The home side turned the screw after Jake Libby had fluently progressed to the fifth century of his career.

Jake Libby had an impressive day at the crease
Jake Libby had an impressive day at the crease. (Nick Potts/PA)

Essex were made to pay for dropping James Hildreth early on as Somerset eased past the follow-on target at Chelmsford.

Hildreth, who went on to be the stubborn mainstay of the Somerset innings with a 148-ball 78, received a life on 16 which would have left Somerset 159 for four, still 209 runs short of the 368 required to make Essex bat again.

In the end they reached that target with two wickets in hand, and went on to finish within 110 runs of Essex’s first-innings 517 for five declared and the hosts then slipped to 17 for two second time around.

Northamptonshire require only six more wickets to defeat Glamorgan on the final day of their clash as they look to move off the foot of the Division Two table.

Ben Duckett’s sparkling ton plus half-centuries from Luke Procter (70), Ricardo Vasconcelos (79) and Steven Crook (73) helped Northants declare their second innings on 406 for nine at Sophia Gardens.

Faced with an imposing victory target of 434, Glamorgan’s top four all made starts but perished before the close, Sri Lanka spinner Seekkuge Prasanna taking two wickets including the prize scalp of Australia batsman Usman Khawaja.

On a pitch that is offering assistance for seamers and spinners alike, Glamorgan closed on 121 for four and seem poised to replace their opponents at the bottom of the second-tier standings.

Kent completed a comprehensive 342-run win against Middlesex with five sessions to spare.

Having resumed at Canterbury on 22 for two in their second innings, Middlesex lost their last eight wickets for 102 runs inside a session as their former player Harry Podmore took a career-best six for 36.

In pursuit of a highly unlikely victory target of 467 against a Kent side unbeaten since the first round of the championship campaign, the visitors buckled for the second time in three days.

The international class of Leicestershire paceman Mohammad Abbas was too much for Derbyshire as the Foxes secured a six-wicket victory on day three of the floodlit Division Two match at Derby.

The Pakistan pace bowler took six for 54, including the wicket of Matt Critchley, who was last to go for 86 from 124 balls as Derbyshire were bowled out for 184.

That left Leicestershire with a modest target of 133 and 58 from Colin Ackermann backed up by 48 from skipper Paul Horton sealed a 21-point win.