50 for Allisonpublished at 12:08 BST

12:08 BST

Worcs 265 & 96-2 v Middx 339 & 283-6

Worcestershire do bat a long way down and night watcher Ben Allison has been excellent.

He did survive a regulation slip chance but he's prospered since reaching the fifth first class half century of his career.

The home crowd are beginning to believe in something special here.

Jack Haynes goes hard outside off stump from Alfie Ogborne to smash an aerial cut up and over the infield and away for four.

It's calmed down a bit at Scarborough.

Yorkshire knew they would have to be patient and they remain on course despite resistance from Bamber and Hain.

for Ben Allisonpublished at 12:03 BST

12:03 BST

Worcs 265 & 94-2 v Middx 339 & 283-6 dec

This is getting ridiculous.

Ben Allison has pulled two successive short deliveries from Tom Helm for sixes.

Some light in the dark for Notts as Liam Patterson-White gets off the mark in style by slapping Migael Pretorius for four to the cover boundary.

Short and wide, gets the treatment.

The final cover is now being removed and the umpires have decided that play can begin at 12:15 BST.

A frustrating 75-minute delay for Northants, who will be looking to pick up these three remaining Gloucestershire wickets quickly and begin what should be a comfortable fourth-innings chase.

The visitors are 67 in front and, as we mentioned earlier, James Bracey and Daz Ahmed are the not out batsmen.

Jack Haynes is more than happy to leave every delivery outside the off stump from Alfie Ogborne and who can blame him?

Nottinghamshire still need to try and bat for at least another 83 overs with only four wickets in hand if they are to get anything from this game.

50 partnership Roderick & Allisonpublished at 11:57 BST

11:57 BST

Worcs 265 & 82-2 v Middx 339 & 283-6 dec

Ben Allison has edged to the slip cordon three times. Once he was dropped and twice the ball didn't quite carry.

So he's still there on 37 dominating a 50 partnership with Gareth Roderick.

Another shout from Jamie Porter, another rejection from the umpire.

This time the seamer and Michael Pepper, who is up at the stumps, think Josh Davey might have feathered one into the keeper's gloves with his outside edge.

That has not done anything for Porter's mood, having also conceded four runs off Davey who edged to the third man boundary a couple of deliveries earlier.

Certainly looking good for the future for Somerset. Unless, of course, they're all dragged off to the England side, which seems quite likely in the coming years for at least a couple of those players.

Nottinghamshire haven't lost a County Championship game since May 2025, which came away at Durham and was their only defeat last season on the way to the title.

Notts also haven't suffered a home defeat for almost two years, losing to Hampshire at Trent Bridge in May 2024.

That just tells you the size of this victory for Somerset if they can indeed get it over the line.

The spectators are well wrapped up on a fresh morning at North Marine Road.

But the locals among them will be happy with the way it's going for Yorkshire with the early dismissals of Alex Davies and Dan Mousley, both to George Hill.

Sam Hain, who scored a century against Yorkshire at Edgbaston earlier the season, is trying to steady the ship while night watcher Ethan Bamber continues to occupy the crease.

That was a dreaded pair for Nottinghamshire's Lyndon James.

And Craig Overton has been quietly going about his business very well as he picks up a wicket maiden.

He has 3-16 from nine overs here.

Ben Allison is enjoying himself.

He normally bats at number ten but came in at the fall of the second wicket just before the close of day three.

He's hit Sebastian Morgan for successive boundaries as Worcestershire get their required runs below 300

In an article on the 'What England Means To Me' website, Lord Hattersley once said he was proud of a country "that’s associated with Shakespeare, with Elgar, with cricket, and, above all, the landscape".

Notts are still trying to play some shots despite the big hole they find themselves in here.

Jack Haynes plays a nice drive through extra cover for four off Jake Ball to add to the two he picked up the previous delivery.

The number of runs required drops below 400. It's now 398 to win. It would be an understatement to say that seems rather unlikely.

Essex cannot believe that this lbw shout has not merited the raising of the umpire's finger.

Jamie Porter raps Lewis Hill on the pads. Height does not appear to be an issue. The umpire is unmoved.

The devastated reaction of Porter and keeper Michael Pepper - who heads down to the other end for the new over with his hands on his helmet - suggests they thought that was plumb.