A superbly constructed maiden first-class century from Nottinghamshire batsman Alex Hales set up an intriguing final day run-chase for LV= County Championship Division One strugglers Hampshire.

The 21-year-old cemented the Nottinghamshire second innings with 136 at Trent Bridge to help the championship leaders to 315 all out, with Sean Ervine and Dominic Cork taking four wickets each.

Chasing 281 to secure their first win of the campaign, Hampshire faced two overs before the close and reached seven without loss.

Adam Lyth continued his hugely impressive start to the season as Yorkshire built a strong position against Somerset at Taunton.

The 22-year-old left-hander followed up his first-innings century with 93 off 170 balls as his side closed day three on 154 for two and leading by 182.

Somerset had earlier been bowled out for 377, Arul Suppiah falling one short of a hundred and Jos Buttler scoring 52.

Jonathan Trott made a timely return to form with an unbeaten century which frustrated Lancashire's push for victory against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Trott's 102 was his first century since his Test debut in last August's Ashes decider and came a day before the selectors meet to name their squad for next week's first Test against Bangladesh.

Thanks to Trott and Rikki Clarke (42), Warwickshire took the game into a fourth day but Lancashire are still well-placed to complete a swift double over them.

Warwickshire were set 441, which would be the highest fourth-innings total in their history, for victory and they closed on 263 for six, still 178 short of victory, having slipped to 119 for four at one stage. Glen Chapple bagged four wickets for Lancashire.

Reigning champions Durham need another 102 runs with seven wickets in hand to wrap up their second win of the campaign after a fluctuating third day against fellow strugglers Kent that saw 17 wickets fall.

On a Canterbury pitch showing signs of uneven bounce, Durham lost their last four first-innings wickets for 77 before dismissing Kent for 162 inside 50 overs to leave themselves needing 169 for victory.

In the 90 minutes before the close Durham reached 67 for three.

Northamptonshire opener Stephen Peters struck his second century of the season but Division Two leaders Sussex's late fightback left the match hanging in the balance.

Peters' brilliant knock of 136 from 251 balls was the bedrock of the home side's total of 274 all out which gave them a lead of 99.

But the visitors had little problem in pulling back the deficit and closed on 137 for two, 38 runs ahead.

Andrew Strauss fell eight runs short of a first hundred of the season as Middlesex lost 10 wickets for 161 runs to surrender control against bottom club Surrey at The Oval.

Surrey, who chose not to enforce the follow-on when their visitors were all out for

324, reached 165 for two at the close, a lead of 331, and will now aim to bowl Middlesex out again as they seek a first championship victory of the season.

Steffan Jones made the highest score by a Derbyshire number 11 as Worcestershire lost some momentum at New Road in their drive for a third victory of the season.

The 36-year-old Welshman smashed 86 from 70 balls - surpassing Nick Walker's record of 80 against Somerset at Derby in 2004 - and partnered Tim Groenewald in the second highest last-wicket stand in the county's history, adding 123 to lift their side to 295.

With Derbyshire made to follow on 264 behind, an opening stand of 51 by Chris Rogers (32) and Wayne Madsen (34) suggested it would be tougher for the bowlers second time round but Worcestershire edged towards their prize in taking three wickets for 183 by the close.

Centuries from Ben Wright and Jim Allenby put Glamorgan in control against Gloucestershire at Cardiff.

Wright hit a career-best 172 and Allenby 105 as the hosts established a 166-run lead in declaring on 583 for nine, with Anthony Ireland claiming five for 114.

Gloucestershire then reached 12 for one in their second innings.