Durham look certain to go top of the LV County Championship as they closed in on victory over Hampshire in a low-scoring encounter at Basingstoke.

Hampshire could manage only 96 in reply to the visitors' first-innings 156 this morning as Mark Davies continued to rip through their order. Davies added three more wickets to the five he claimed yesterday without conceding to finish with career-best figures of eight for 24.

But after 16 fell on the first day at May's Bounty yesterday, the wickets continued to tumble and Durham were shot out for 179 second time around, James Tomlinson taking five for 62.

That left Hampshire needing 240, the highest score of the match, to win and they were soon in trouble and limped to 108 for five at the close, needing another 132.

Bilal Shafayat hit 118 as challengers Nottinghamshire responded strongly to champions Sussex's 339 at Hove. Shafayat, whose runs came from 198 balls with 16 fours and a six, put on 157 for the first wicket with Will Jefferson (80) as the visitors reached 259 for two.

Earlier, Charlie Shreck took four of the remaining five Sussex wickets to fall for 14 to finish with four for 82. Jacques Rudolph's century helped Yorkshire establish a commanding position against Kent at Scarborough.

The South African, having put on 176 for the third wicket with Anthony McGrath (52), hit 146 from 221 balls with 21 fours and a six to help his side to 409 for seven, a lead of 182. Adam Lyth also weighed in with 68 and Adil Rashid was unbeaten on 43 at the close.

There was no play for a second consecutive day in the match between Lancashire and Surrey at Blackpool.

In the Second Division, Leicestershire crashed to defeat by an innings and 74 runs against Essex at Grace Road, while Jonathan Trott cracked 181 as promotion-chasing Warwickshire declared on 476 for nine against Derbyshire at Edgbaston.

Derbyshire were 83 without loss at the close with new captain continuing his fine form with an unbeaten 51.

Our reporters will keep you updated with all the latest in the LV County Championship with session-by-session reports direct from the grounds.

To read yesterday's reports click here

LV County Championship - Division One

Hampshire v Durham, Basingstoke

Lancashire v Surrey, Blackpool

Sussex v Nottinghamshire, Hove

Yorkshire v Kent, Scarborough

LV County Championship - Division Two

Leicestershire v Essex, Grace Road

Northamptonshire v Glamorgan, Northampton

Warwickshire v Derbyshire, Edgbaston

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