County Championship: Lancashire stay top as rain ruins final day

Lancashire remain top of the Specsavers County Championship after picking up nine points in a draw with Middlesex at Lord's.

No play was possible on the final day due to rain, the hosts stuck on 419-5 - Nick Gubbins 201 not out - in response to Lancashire's first-innings 513.

Middlesex take 11 points from the clash, enough to see them leapfrog Durham into third place in the table and close to within two points of second-placed Yorkshire.

Rain also ruined play in the two other Division One games - Somerset and Warwickshire both frustrated in their efforts to force final-day victories.

Hampshire still trailed by 82 runs with only six second-innings wickets intact going into the final day against Somerset at The Ageas Bowl, but were saved by the weather.

The hosts remain bottom of the table, despite picking up eight points for their efforts, while Somerset's 13 sees them stay sixth.

A washout on day four at Edgbaston resulted in a draw between Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire - the hosts staying fifth after picking up 11 points to Notts' eight, who move the same number clear of eighth-placed Surrey.

In Division Two, there was at least some cricket played at Canterbury, although Kent's clash with Derbyshire still ended in a stalemate.

The hosts were 238-3 in their second innings with a slender 43-run advantage when rain arrived and brought an early finish - Sam Northeast 70 not out, following his first-innings 191.

Kent move above Essex into top spot in the table with their 10 points for the draw, while Gloucestershire's 12 nudges them above Worcestershire into fourth.

The third day's play between Leicestershire and Gloucestershire at Grace Road was another to be called off due to rain.

The two sides will hope for improved prospects of play on day four, but with the visitors just 69-0 still in their first innings in response to Leicestershire's 334, a draw looks the most likely outcome.