Leaders Surrey boosted their Division One title ambitions by taking a grip on their contest with Durham at Chester-le-Street.
Surrey, resuming on 182 for five after bowling Durham out for 153 on the opening day, made 322 with Dan Lawrence and Jordan Clark leading the way with 88 and 82 respectively.
Durham reached 222 for five at the close – a lead of 53 – with firm resistance from Emilio Gay, who fell one short of a century on 99.
Colin Ackermann went for 43 just before the close as Sai Kahore’s two wickets gave Surrey hope of a fourth victory of the season.
Second-placed Nottinghamshire’s hopes of staying in touch with the leaders were boosted by skipper Haseeb Hameed’s century at Trent Bridge.
Responding to Somerset’s 438 all out, Hameed made his third hundred of the season with his unbeaten 103 from 179 balls taking him past the 1,000 run mark this summer.
Freddie McCann chipped in with 48 and Joe Clarke was undefeated on 26 as Nottinghamshire closed on 189 for two.
Essex made a massive 602 for six against Warwickshire with bowlers short of joy on a batting-friendly pitch at Chelmsford.
Centuries from Charlie Allison (133) and Michael Pepper (107 not out) added to Tom Westley’s 148.
Warwickshire also made hay with the bat to close on 140 for two as skipper Alex Davies made 58, with Dan Mousley unbeaten on 54.
Yorkshire established a first-innings lead over Sussex at Scarborough after bowling out the visitors for 222.
Jack White was the pick of the bowlers with three for 25 from 19 overs as the wickets were shared around.
Adam Lyth (115 from 233 balls) and James Wharton (85 from 130) shared a 168-run partnership for the third wicket, and Yorkshire will resume play on day three 292 for four – a lead of 70.
Worcestershire are 106 runs adrift of Hampshire at the halfway stage with eight first-innings wickets left at New Road.
The visitors were dismissed for 293 after Tom Prest’s 54 and it looked an unsatisfactory score after the hosts reached 187 for two.
Jake Libby (70 not out) and Adam Hose (82 not out) were defiant with an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 126.
