Somerset on course for win

Steffan Jones took two Kent wickets as Somerset closed in on victory

Somerset were closing in on victory over Kent at Taunton when rain cut short day three of their Division One clash.

Kent were staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat at 163 for six.

Geraint Jones (21 not out) and Ryan McLaren (12no) were together when rain stopped play.

Somerset, who resumed on 129 for five, declared on 243 for eight, leaving Kent with an improbable target of 463 for victory.

Justin Langer, 65 not out overnight, fell for 88 edging to Geraint Jones off McLaren.

Steffan Jones removed openers Joe Denly and James Tredwell when Kent began their second innings. Tredwell (four) edged to keeper Craig Kieswetter and Jones was bowled Denly for 38. Matt Walker was trapped leg before by Ben Phillips for 22.

Martin van Jaarsveld (39) edged to Kieswetter off Alfonso Thomas, Justin Kemp was trapped leg before by Ian Blackwell for 16 and Charl Willoughy removed Yasir Arafat (9).

Surrey were 185 for three in their second innings against Durham at Guildford, trailing by five runs, when rain stopped play.

Surrey, facing a 190-run first innings deficit, got off to a solid start with Scott Newman and Stewart Walters sharing an opening stand of 96 before Newman, having made 67 to follow his first innings century, fell to a Mark Stone catch off Paul Wiseman.

Walters (33) perished to a Steve Harmison catch off Callum Thorp and Chris Murtagh (12) fell victim to the same combination, this time Thorp taking the catch off Harmison’s bowling.

Jon Batty (31no) and Usman Afzaal (27) were in harness when the rain intervened.

Earlier Will Smith hammered an unbeaten double century as Durham secured a commanding first innings lead.

Smith, 128 not out overnight in Durham’s 261 for five, was unbeaten on 201 as Durham were bowled out for 410.

Smith received useful support from Wiseman (34) and Liam Plunkett (28).

Hampshire were in danger of suffering an innings defeat against Sussex at Arundel.

The visitors were bowled out for 257 replying to Sussex’s 426 - Corey Colleymore taking four for 60 while Greg Lamb hit an unbeaten 54 - and the home side forced the follow-on.

By the close Hampshire were 127 for seven, still trailing by 42 runs.

Ollie Rayner claimed the wickets of John Crawley, Michael Lumb, Sean Ervine and Greg Lamb while Robin Martin-Jenkins removed Michael Brown and Liam Dawson.