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So Sussex and Gloucestershire provide an exciting climax to round three of the 2024 County Championship, with the home side coming out on top at Hove - both in terms of the result and the Division Two table.

In Division One, defending champions Surrey collected their first win of the season by wearing down Kent's lower order and are in second place behind early pace-setters Essex.

Thanks for your company over the past four days. We'll be back on Friday to do it all again for round four.

Let's hope it'll be a few degrees warmer.

Image source, Rex Features

Division One

Hampshire 365 v Warwickshire 455 & 205-4

Match drawn

Kent 244 & 262 v Surrey 543-7 dec

Surrey won by an innings and 37 runs

Somerset 454 v Nottinghamshire 193 & 440-2

Match drawn

Division Two

Derbyshire 167 & 224-6 v Leicestershire 574-7 dec

Match drawn

Northamptonshire 605-6 dec v Glamorgan 271 & 104-3

Match drawn

Sussex 479 & 144-6 v Gloucestershire 417 & 205

Sussex won by four wickets

Edgy or not, Sussex's victory over Gloucestershire takes them to the summit in the early weeks of the Division Two campaign. Here's the full table after that and today's draws between Northants and Glamorgan, and Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

• Sussex P3 W1 Pts 51
• Middlesex P3 W1 Pts 42
• Leicestershire P3 W0 Pts 41
• Northamptonshire P3 W0 Pts 39
• Glamorgan P3 W0 Pts 34
• Yorkshire P3 W0 Pts 28
• Derbyshire P3 W0 Pts 28
• Gloucestershire P3 W0 Pts 26

Danny Lamb finishes 17 not out, with Cheteshwar Pujara unbeaten on 44 at the other end.

As long as the Indian was at the crease, Sussex were always favourites despite Zafar Gohar's 5-59.

A word for the Pakistan bowler's efforts though with eight wickets and two half-centuries at Hove - a fine effort.

Sussex go top of the Division Two table as they collects 22 points for their opening win of 2024, while Gloucestershire pick up six points but remain bottom.

Adrian Harms
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sussex

Sussex have won an enthralling game here.

There are handshakes all round.

The win takes Sussex back to the top of Division Two of the County Championship.

It's been a terrific game.

Fortunately the rain has stayed away and Sussex are undefeated after three games.

Danny Lamb goes to sweep and ends up hitting the slip on the head, but they run through for the single needed for victory.

Image source, Rex Features

Danny Lamb confidently sweeps the first ball of Zafar Gohar's latest over away for four.

One to win. Scores are level.

A quick single from Danny Lamb. Five to win.

Cheteshwar Pujara gets on the back foot and pushes one through the covers.

One more. One big blow will win this.

Danny Lamb pulls one away from Zaman Akhter and that is one more. Seven to win.

Another one to Danny Lamb and he nudges the target down to eight.

That is a reassuring shot from Danny Lamb as he sweeps Zafar Gohar for four.

Down to single figures.

Remember, Gloucestershire did not win a single Championship game last year.

Their last red-ball victory was in September 2022 in Division One away to Yorkshire - a result which relegated the Yorkies along with them.

Image source, Rex Features

Cheteshwar Pujara seems in no hurry. Happy to duck under short balls from Zaman Akhter.

He is content to play out five dots to the rest of the over.

13 still required.

Isabelle Duncan
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sussex

It's turned into a real contest today, it's not what I was been expecting.

I was expecting it to be a bit of a breeze for Sussex and perhaps roll over Gloucestershire in the morning but that was not to be.

They've put up a mighty fight here with their backs to the wall but they are in a position to win it as well.

It's mostly down to Zafar Gohar in this second innings, he caused turmoil amongst the Sussex camp.

A couple of big blows would more or less do this, but Sussex are watchful.

Danny Lamb pulls down to deep square. Is it four? No, it's just one.

13 to win.

Six balls from Zafar Gohar outside leg-stump.

Six times Cheteshwar Pujara pads up.

But the umpire calls a no-ball off the sixth ball and that is two runs to the total.

14 more to win.

Adrian Harms
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Sussex

Sussex are inching their way to the win but it has been a nervy afternoon.

Zaman Akhter is back into the attack for Gloucestershire. They could do with him being Shoaib Akhtar!

He persists with the same short-ball tactic as Dom Goodman.

Pujara nudges a single off the final ball to bring the chase down to 16 runs.

The light has improved at Hove, as Danny Lamb plays out a maiden to Zafar Gohar.