Ollie Pope has fallen seven runs short of a career-best first-class score, but his innings of 245 at the Oval helped Surrey take the upper-hand over Leicestershire in their County Championship match.

Joe Root was another England batsman in fine nick on Saturday as scored a ton for Yorkshire against Kent at Canterbury.

Pride of place, though, went to Pope, who resumed on day three unbeaten on 92 and looked in imperious form on his way to another double hundred in a knock which lasted 272 balls before he was stumped in search of a 31st boundary.

Pope, who top scored with 34 during a difficult winter tour of India, was able to celebrate a three-figure knock for the first time since he hit a maiden Test century away to South Africa in January last year.

Fellow academy graduate Jamie Stuart joined him in the hundred club with three sixes in an excellent 123, which saw Surrey declare on 8-672 to leave Leicestershire needing to bat out the final day for a draw.

England captain Root scored 101 to help Yorkshire set Kent an improbable target of 445 to win their Group Two encounter in Canterbury.

Opener Adam Lyth (116) also hit a century while Root's breezy innings was brought to its conclusion by the part-spin of Joe Denly, who finished with 2-61.

After Yorkshire declared on 5-330, Kent lost two wickets including Zak Crawley to close on 2-33.

Bob Willis Trophy holders Essex have taken their Group One fixture with Durham into the final day and could pull off an unexpected win after they set 168 for victory.

Half-centuries from Paul Walter (77) and Ben Allison (52) got the hosts up to 330 in their second innings at Chelmsford, in spite of Brydon Carse's five-wicket haul, and the visitors ended on 3-60 to set up a dramatic finale.

Elsewhere in Group One, Matt Critchley continued to impress for Derbyshire and followed up a day-one hundred with a five-wicket haul to dismiss Worcestershire for 305 before he almost hit another century, being dismissed for 84.

Warwickshire need a further 248 with seven wickets in hand at Trent Bridge after Stuart Broad helped restrict them to 3-85 at the close.

Gloucestershire's seam attack put them in sight of a first win at Taunton since 1993 on the third day of their Group Two match with Somerset.

Centuries from Sam Northeast and Ian Holland put Hampshire in a strong position to wrap up victory on Sunday in their match against Middlesex at the Ageas Bowl.

Lancashire will go into the final day of their Group Three clash with Northamptonshire looking to chase down a victory with seven wickets required to seal a first win of the season, with Steven Croft's unbeaten 103 the highlight for the hosts.

Kiran Carlson scored his second hundred of the match as Glamorgan brought themselves back into the contest against Sussex.