Gary Ballance and Tom Kohler-Cadmore shared a third-wicket partnership of 141 to help give Yorkshire the chance of claiming a come-from-behind Specsavers County Championship victory over Hampshire in Division One.
Yorkshire conceded a first-innings lead of 54 late on day two and slipped to 20 for two early on day three, only for Kohler-Cadmore, who made 69, and Ballance (83 not out) to change the complexion of the fixture either side of lunch.
By the time rain arrived and forced an early tea – and later an early close – Yorkshire were 207 for three in the 66th over, leading by 153.
🎥 The bad weather led to a frustrating end this afternoon, but @willrhodes35 is looking forward to an exciting day four at @edgbaston. 🐻#YouBears #WARvSUR pic.twitter.com/ztE7U6hS6i — Warwickshire CCC 🏏 (@WarwickshireCCC) May 29, 2019
The weather played a part across the country and Warwickshire were frustrated in pursuit of their first win of the season against Surrey at Edgbaston.
The third day's play was restricted to just 22 overs after rain arrived just before lunch and never relented.
Warwickshire took their overnight score of 26 without loss to 76 for two, moving 181 ahead overall, but were then denied a chance to build a commanding lead which would give them plenty of time to try to bowl Surrey out a second time.
At Chelmsford, Alastair Cook fell 10 runs short of scoring two centuries in the same match for the first time in his first-class career as Essex compiled a healthy lead over Kent.
📝 A rain interrupted day saw us forge a 312-run lead against @KentCricket, with Alastair Cook in the runs once again. Read the match report on Day Three from The Cloudfm County Ground... ➡️ https://t.co/P1XkjoeCps pic.twitter.com/F67WQKW2yH — Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) May 29, 2019
Cook made 125 in the first innings and reached 90 in the second before edging Wiaan Mulder to slip, but Essex reached 181 for six, a lead of 312 before rain truncated the day's play at tea.
In Division Two, Marnus Labuschagne scored his third century of the season as Glamorgan continued their impressive fightback on the rain-shortened third day of their match with Sussex.
Just 21 overs were possible at Hove on Wednesday before rain arrived with Glamorgan 218 for one in their second innings – still 16 behind – with Labuschagne 131 not out.
Opener Nick Selman, who carried his bat in the first innings, has so far helped Labuschagne add 218, with the Glamorgan record for the second wicket against Sussex of 238 – set in 1962 by Alan Jones and Tony Lewis at Hastings – now in their sights.
Derbyshire picked up two key wickets in the afternoon session before rain closed in as their match against Leicestershire continued to hang in the balance at the County Ground.
🎙️ | @dmalan29 reflects on a brilliant 124 with the bat, as well as the current state of our @CountyChamp match against @WorcsCCC as we head into the final day... Listen here 👉 https://t.co/zJDCkn4UYQ pic.twitter.com/wSQjKyxNYN — Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) May 29, 2019
Chasing a target of 234 to win, Mark Cosgrove and Hassan Azad (44 not out) had added 58 for the third wicket when Cosgrove holed out to long-on for 28 from the bowling of occasional off-spinner Wayne Madsen.
Soon afterward, Colin Ackermann had his off-stump knocked back by a fine delivery from left-arm seamer Luis Reece, leaving Leicestershire's hopes resting on the slim shoulders of Azad as they closed on 110 for four, 124 short of victory.
Captain Dawid Malan extended his overnight score to 124 as Middlesex attempted to make up for lost time on a rain-shortened third day against Worcestershire at New Road.
Only 21 overs were possible but Malan and his team-mates had sufficient time to add 92 runs for the loss of four wickets and close on 287 for six in their second innings, a lead of 352.
Rain meant no play was possible between Gloucestershire and Lancashire for the second day running.
Lancashire were due to resume their first innings on 47 for two in reply to Gloucestershire's 205, but play was abandoned for the day at 2pm.
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