Sussex and Warwickshire appear destined for a draw which will do little for either's hopes of clawing back ground already conceded to the top teams in this year's LV County Championship Division One table.

Warwickshire added another 58 runs for the last wicket on the third morning to finish their first innings on 407 all out at Edgbaston.

After Sussex had then responded with 276 for four by the close - thanks to half-centuries from captain Mike Yardy (57) at the top of the order and fifth-wicket pair Carl Hopkinson (64no) and Luke Wright (59no) - the prospects of a positive outcome, without collusion, on Friday were remote.

In Division Two, Essex face an uphill struggle to save the game at home to Glamorgan, who bowled them out for 200 in reply to 515 for nine declared on the back of Adam Shantry's five for 62 and James Harris' three for 37.

Essex were soon in trouble again following on but recovered to 132 for four - still 183 behind - by stumps.

Derbyshire are in considerably better shape in a match which nonetheless appears set to end in a draw at Northampton on Friday.

Replying to their hosts' 433 for nine, they moved from 11 without loss at start of play to 371 for four - thanks principally to a fourth-wicket stand of 237 between Wavell Hinds (133no) and Daniel Redfern (95).

Hinds had hit 17 fours and five sixes from 165 balls by the close.