Teenager Dan Lawrence produced an encouraging response to Kumar Sangakkara's double hundred as Essex fought back in their top-of-the-table Specsavers County Championship clash at Surrey.
The hosts posted 369 after their Sri Lankan left-hander reached 200, but a confident start by Nick Browne (52) and Alastair Cook (36) was built on by the 19-year-old Lawrence, who scored an unbeaten 78 in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 89 with Ravi Bopara.
Essex reached stumps at 215 for three, just five short of the follow-on mark, and 154 runs behind with seven wickets in hand.
An eventful day at Taunton saw 15 wickets fall on day two as 19-year-old off-spinner Dom Bess claimed a career-best seven for 117 to set his Somerset side a victory target of 259.
In the morning the hosts lost their last five wickets for 40 runs to eke out a 35-run lead over Hampshire after posting 197.
Bess then came to the fore as the visitors were bowled out for 293 and Somerset's requirement was reduced to 220 by Marcus Trescothick and Dean Elgar at the close.
In Division Two, unbeaten leaders Nottinghamshire seized the initiative after declaring on 430 for nine and then forcing Gloucestershire to follow on, having been skittled for 149.
Nottinghamshire added 63 to their overnight score before reducing the visitors to 59 for five, with Phil Mustard providing the only resistance with a half-century.
Asked to bat again Gloucestershire closed on 37 for one, still 244 behind.
Barry Godleman (141) and Shiv Thakor (132) both scored centuries while Gary Wilson fell just three short as Derbyshire's game at home to Leicestershire headed for a high-scoring draw.
Chasing the visitors' 619, the hosts reached 532 for eight on day three as bat dominated ball at the County Ground.
Chris Cooke (63no) and Aneurin Donald (51) both scored half-centuries in Glamorgan's delayed response to Durham's 342 all out, the visitors reaching 225 for six at stumps.
Kent have already racked up a 321-run lead on day two after bowling out visitors Sussex for 164 thanks to a five-wicket haul from Darren Stevens, who now has 29 championship wickets at 12.08 apiece.
Resuming on 316 for eight, the hosts added a further 53 before making immediate inroads with their bowling, reducing their opponents to 69 for four. But just when it appeared they had steadied the ship, Sussex lost their last six wickets for 64 runs.
Daniel Bell-Drummond (68no) and Sean Dickson (42no) then put on 116 without loss to take a stranglehold on the game.
Daryl Mitchell's 161 on the second day at Wantage Road put Worcestershire on course for a fourth consecutive victory.
He helped his side take a first-innings lead of 196 and Northamptonshire were then reduced to 53 for two by the close of day two, trailing by 143.
Source: PA
