The expectation is that Liam Livingstone will play white-ball cricket for England this summer, probably as soon as next month. But with 168, the highest of his five first-class centuries, and second outstanding contribution in Lancashire’s match – he made 68 of 109 in the first innings – against Somerset, he became a very real contender for selection for July’s Tests against South Africa too.

Livingstone, captaining Lancashire at 23, is extremely highly regarded by England’s selectors after being the standout red-ball batsmen for the Lions this winter, making twin tons against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla in February.

The 245 he shared for Lancashire’s third wicket with the 22-year-old Alex Davies – who made 130, his second century this season – helped turn a first-innings deficit of 169 into a lead of 254 with three wickets in hand going into the final day, and a chance of winning the match. Livingstone, as if to hammer home that he has all the strokes, brought up his ton with a flamboyant six over long-on, but was solid in defence before falling to Jack Leach.

His was the third of four Lancashire wickets to fall – two in an over for Craig Overton and two for Leach – in quick succession, but Ryan McLaren and Stephen Parry shared an unbeaten 44 to provide Jimmy Anderson with a position of some strength going into the final day.

As Yorkshire were made to follow-on at Hampshire – despite a century from captain Gary Ballance – Joe Root was dismissed cheaply for the second time in as many days. Ballance made 108, his ninth ton in 13 first-class matches as captain, but was the penultimate wicket to fall as Yorkshire were dismissed for 231, a deficit of 214. With the lunch interval following the final wicket, Reece Topley’s first for Hampshire, James Vince had no hesitation enforcing the follow-on.

Adam Lyth, caught behind off Gareth Berg, and Root, lbw to Kyle Abbott, were soon gone, however, and it was left to Alex Lees and Ballance to rebuild with a stand of 150. Abbott dismissed Lees late in the day, but Balance reached stumps on 78 (and top of the run charts this summer), with Yorkshire still 46 behind.

After surviving six overs on the third evening, Alastair Cook returns to Lord’s on Monday with a game to save for Essex against champions Middlesex, who earlier declined to enforce the follow-on, then were slow to declare. On a dull wicket, Middlesex did superbly to bowl Essex out for 295, including the last five wickets for 42, for a lead of 212. Steven Finn looked in fine fettle and took the final three wickets, including the superb Dan Lawrence (75), who had shared 127 with Adam Wheater.

Middlesex’s top three, Sam Robson, Nick Gubbins and Stevie Eskinazi, then hit rapid half-centuries to supplement their first innings tons before the declaration — which was particularly conservative with rain forecast on Monday afternoon – finally arrived. After a couple of sumptuous straight drives from Nick Browne, who was dropped at second slip, Essex require a nominal 433 more on the last day.

Cook’s former England team-mate Ian Bell has a similar job on his hands at Edgbaston, where he closed on 68 with Warwickshire 57 ahead with six wickets in hand against Surrey. Earlier, Kumar Sangakkara had made his second century this week, and 58th in first-class cricket, as Surrey gained a first-innings lead of 105. Jade Dernbach took two wickets as Warwickshire reached stumps 162 for four, at least ensuring that they will not lose all of their first three matches by an innings.

Forty, so the saying goes, is not that old if you’re a tree. It’s also not that old if you’re a Division Two all-rounder, as Paul Collingwood and Darren Stevens are determined to prove. Stevens, seven days shy of his 41st birthday, made it four half-centuries and 22 wickets for the season – and, most important three wins for second-placed Kent – by scoring 90 and taking three for 63 as Derbyshire (three points to Kent’s 21) were seen off by 169 runs at Canterbury. Adam Rouse had been left stranded five shy of a maiden first-class century in Kent’s second innings, while the on-loan Middlesex seamer took four wickets in Derbyshire’s chase, including Gary Wilson, ninth man out for 97.

Meanwhile Collingwood, 41 next month, was last man out for 93 in Durham’s 419, a lead of 116 over Gloucestershire, who had turned that to a lead of 59, three wickets down, by the close.

Leicestershire head into the final day in control against Glamorgan, who are also winless. Colin Ingram’s 137 helped Glamorgan to a six-run first innings lead, but captain Ned Eckersley (unbeaten on 70) guided Leicestershire to the close 200 for three.