Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale guided his title-chasing side to a vital LV= County Championship victory over defending champions Durham.

The England Lions left-hander finished unbeaten on 70 as Yorkshire wrapped up a four-wicket victory before lunch on the final day at Chester-le-Street.

Yorkshire had resumed on 254 for four, requiring 299 to win, after South African Jaques Rudolph anchored their run-chase yesterday with a century.

Former England paceman Steve Harmison struck twice to remove Steven Patterson and Gerrard Brophy but Gale (70 not out) and Adil Rashid (15no) saw the visitors home without further trouble.

Yorkshire's fifth victory of the season moved them into second place and within four points of leaders Nottinghamshire, who beat Warwickshire inside two days this week.

Somerset, who began the day in second, took control of Essex on the second day at Chelmsford.

Charl Willoughby and Alfonso Thomas struck twice each this morning to finish with four wickets apiece as Essex were bowled out for 151, in reply to Somerset's first innings total of 215.

The visitors then amassed 367 for eight declared second time around, with Marcus Trescothick dominating with an outstanding unbeaten 228 off 230 balls, including seven sixes and 23 fours.

James Hildreth (59) and Murali Kartik (52no) were the other main contributors as the title hopefuls set Essex an unlikely victory target of 432. They closed on 38 for one with Jaik Mickleburgh (15) the man out.

At Canterbury, Lancashire hit back against Kent - dismissing the hosts for 249 for a 17-run first innings advantage.

Joe Denly added just one to his overnight 68 but top-scored in a Kent innings which saw six players reach 20 but none go on to dominate the Lancashire attack, for whom Glen Chapple and Gary Keedy each took four wickets.

The visitors closed on 103 for three second time around, with an unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 51 between Shivnarine Chanderpaul (23no) and Steven Croft (38) helping them to an overall advantage of 120.

In Division Two, Middlesex dented Glamorgan's title hopes as Dawid Malan's unbeaten 84 led the visitors to a six-wicket victory in Cardiff.

Middlesex needed 50 to win on the final day and they knocked off the runs without mishap as Malan passed his half-century and Gareth Berg finished 30 not out.

Worcestershire ripped through Surrey's lower order to wrap up a 238-run victory today, as Bangladesh spinner Shakib Al Hasan finished with figures of six for 42.

Surrey, who had resumed on 64 for four chasing 369 to win, lost their last six wickets for just 18 runs in the space of 4.2 overs.

Sussex, who began the day in second place, took full advantage of Glamorgan's slip-up, turning the screw on day two of their match against Derbyshire.

Chris Nash, Ed Joyce, Ben Brown and Murray Goodwin all hit hundreds as Sussex mercilessly piled up 576 for three declared against Derbyshire in the match at Horsham.

It was the first time in Sussex's history that all their top-four batsmen had reached three figures in a first-class match, and for 21-year-old Brown it was a maiden first-class century.

By the close, Derbyshire were 27 for two in their second innings, still 307 runs adrift. Both Paul Borrington and Chesney Hughes fell to Corey Collymore to leave the visitors facing an uphill task to save the game at the midway point.