11.05am Old Trafford - another glorious morning and a potentially fascinating last day in store, writes Andy Wilson. Lancs resume 226 ahead with four second-innings wickets down. How much are they prepared to risk in pursuit of victory? Surely they can't settle for an 11-point draw, which Kent may achieve from their rain-ruined match against Sussex in Canterbury. On the other hand, of course, Lancashire could be bowled out this morning and take declarations out of the equation.
The pitch remains easy-paced and mostly true, though there is some rough outside left-handers' off stump, and Dominic Cork said last night that there is "still a little bit there" for any seamer who keeps running in - "as Peter Martin did so well for so long here," he added. Wise words. Cork was good value, as he had been yesterday in breathing new life into the game with his aggressive morning spell. He also refuted any suggestion that he will be ready to retire for a permanent move into the media at the end of this season, even though he turns 37 in August. He is in the last year of his contract with Lancashire.
12.25pm Old Trafford - Lancashire have just declared, a decision that brought warm applause from the few hundred regulars who were able to come on a Monday in June, writes Andy Wilson. They've set Notts 315 to win in a minimum of 73 overs, but more importantly, given themselves almost half an hour's bowling before lunch in addition to the last two sessions to try to bowl the visitors out.
I reckon it's Lancashire's most positive declaration for at least a decade, and it would be fascinating to know exactly who's responsible. Unless told to the contrary we'll give the credit to Luke Sutton, the acting captain in the absence of the injured Stuart Law, whose appointment to succeed Mark Chilton during the winter was expected to bring a more positive approach.
Some mixed injury news for Notts: their opener Matthew Wood was forced off after being struck at short-leg by a sweep just before the declaration; but he was replaced by Adam Voges, suggesting that the Australian will be fit to bat despite the bruised wrist he suffered on Sunday - although we don't think he's allowed to come in until No7 after spending the majority of Lancashire's second innings in the pavilion.
12.45pm It's some surprise we're still playing here at the Riverside, but one more ball will do it for Hampshire, writes Richard Rae. Having resumed at 185-6, needing another 109 to win, Durham are currently 237-9, still 57 short. Steve Harmison, when he connects, is connecting cleanly, but Mark Davies is unlikely to make Hampshire too nervous as they chase their first championship win.
Dale Benkenstein - Durham's main hope - went early, taking Nic Pothas' word an edge off Shane Bond had carried. Paul Wiseman hit out bravely, pulling Bond deep into the stand at midwicket, but has just gone to a brilliant one-handed catch by John Crawley at gully, off James Tomlinson. Durham have fought hard this morning, but it's almost all over.
1.05pm Well, would you believe it. It's lunch at The Riverside, and Durham are still in there fighting, on 267-9, writes Richard Rae. Another 27 runs to win, and Steve Harmison is flaying the Hants bowling to all parts. The last over, bowled by James Tomlinson, went for 11 - and really, Durham could probably have done without the break coming when it did. They can't win this, can they? If they do, with the likes of Onions, Plunkett and Chanderpaul being available for the next round of Champo games, and at least one game and in some cases two games in hand on some counties, put the mortgage on them for the title.
3.40pm With Notts 127 for four at tea, needing another 188 from 31 overs, this game remains intriguingly in the balance, even if a draw must still be the most likely result, writes Andy Wilson. Franks and Read deflated Lancashire's Cork-induced optimism with a fourth wicket stand of 70 in 29 overs, and the introduction of Francois Du Plessis' occasional leg spin late in their partnership triggered a rush of runs which revived the visitors' hopes of victory. Maybe that was part of Sutton's masterplan as just before the interval Franks drove loosely at Du Plessis and edged to slip where Cork took the catch. Cork has not bowled since the over in which he missed out on his hat-trick, presumably saving himself for a last blast after tea. He will have to dislodge Voges, who came in at six.
