Former England paceman DeFreitas claimed five for 38 and Dean picked up five for 57 as Leicestershire suffered a dramatic collapse after Vince Wells (64) and Darren Maddy (40) put on 76 for the first wicket.

Tireless campaigner Phil DeFreitas picked up five for 38

Derbyshire, who then reached 43 for the loss of Australian Test star Michael Slater in seven overs before the close, had earlier been bowled out for 177 in just 40.1 overs with James Ormond taking five for 50.

Nottinghamshire are precariously placed at 144 for four with a lead of 86 after Paul Collingwood's unbeaten 97 had steered Durham into a useful position after two days at Trent Bridge.

Durham looked in dire straits at 98 for six but Collingwood's seventh-wicket stand of 110 with Michael Foster (68) pushed the visitors to within three runs of Notts' total.

Foster's dismissal - one of five wickets for Chris Tolley - sparked another demise of three wickets for eight runs before Collingwood dominated a last-wicket stand of 53.

But Steve Harmison (3) was unable to stay with the 22-year-old all-rounder long enough for him to reach his ton and the visitors were all out for 269 for a lead of 58.

Notts opener Tim Robinson then made 64 in their second innings but two wickets apiece for John Wood and Foster kept Durham in control.

Michael Bevan was dismissed four runs short of a century as Sussex were all out for 278, giving hosts Worcestershire a first-innings lead of 75 at New Road.

Australian Test star Bevan received support down the order from Shaun Humphries (43), James Carpenter (33) and James Kirtley (22no) but Sussex were always on the back foot against Stuart Lampitt, who claimed five for 56.

Worcestershire added another 24 runs to their advantage before the close as openers Philip Weston and Vikram Solanki safely negotiated seven overs.

Middlesex wicketkeeper David Nash struck 75 not out

Wicketkeeper David Nash struck an unbeaten 75 to keep Middlesex afloat as they reached 250 for nine, leaving them still 58 runs behind defending champions Glamorgan at Lord's.

England bowler Angus Fraser kept Nash company with a valuable 30 down the order to hold up Steve Watkin (four for 27 in 20 overs) and Darren Thomas (three for 53).

Gus Fraser followed his three for 66 with valuable 30

Glamorgan had earlier lost their last five first-innings wickets for 15 runs in 6.1 overs for a total of 308, Jamie Hewitt finishing with five for 69 and Fraser taking three for 66.

Oxford University reached 97 for five in their second innings to give them a lead of 154 against Yorkshire with one day remaining at The Parks. The county side had earlier declared at 203 for four, Craig White top scoring with 80.

Surrey, joint leaders with Sussex before the latest round of matches, are poised to wrap up a convincing victory over Kent at The Oval after dismissing them for 86 - the lowest championship score of the season.

Kent, last season's runners-up, then slipped to 195 for eight in their second innings and need to score another 61 just to make the hosts bat again.

Carl Hooper scored 94 to add to career-best seven for 93

West Indies all-rounder Carl Hooper scored 94 second time around to add to his career-best bowling figures of seven for 93 as Surrey were dismissed for 342.

But Hooper received little support as leg-spinner Ian Salisbury picked up three for 62 to add to the three for 13 he claimed in the first innings and the unbeaten 56 he scored with the bat.

Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq supported Salisbury with three for 18 in Kent's disastrous first innings, which featured six catches in the slips by England's fit-again Graham Thorpe.

Gloucestershire captain Mark Alleyne scored 70 not out after his four for 63

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire captain Mark Alleyne and Matthew Windows put on 127 for the fourth wicket to frustrate South Africa on the second day of their four-day match.

At close of play Gloucestershire were 265 for six in reply to the touring team's first innings 416 for eight declared. Trialist Gregor Macmillan also scored a sparkling half-century.

The South Africans' performance did little to enhance the selection claims of several fringe players and set the tone for a spirited Gloucestershire batting display.

South Africa had hoped their second-string attack - both Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock were rested - would respond to the extra responsibility and produce performances which would propel them into contention for Edgbaston next Thursday.