Somerset and Essex frustrated by rain again in title decider – as it happened

Roelof van der Merwe’s audacious, big-hitting 60 took Somerset to a useful total of 203 before Essex finished another rain-affected day on 25 for none

5.28pm BST

Contrasting innings from the captain, Tom Abell, and the irrepressible Roelof van der Merwe – plus a weather forecast that hints at a slight improvement – means Somerset players and fans have not yet given up all hope of a historic County Championship -triumph.

Thanks to Abell and Van der Merwe Somerset mustered 203 runs on another truncated day after an entertaining last-wicket partnership of 59. In reply Essex were 25 without loss when the rain returned.

4.53pm BST

Play has been abandoned for the day. Thankfully the forecast for tomorrow is much better, so Somerset’s title hopes aren’t over just yet. Essex will resume on 25 for none in reply to Somerset’s 203, a total that owed most to an audacious 51-ball 60 from the No10 Roelof van der Merwe.

4.44pm BST

Related: The Spin | What should sport's position be in the British honours system?

4.07pm BST

It’s now pelting down at Taunton. There’s no play anywhere except at Hove, where Surrey are 210 for seven against Worcestershire. Ed Barnard has three-for.

4.02pm BST

Bad light has stopped play at the Oval

Only two overs were possible, in which time Surrey moved to 248 for two. Great stuff.

3.56pm BST

It’s raining, heavily

I fear that will be it for the day.

3.48pm BST

Latest scores

3.44pm BST

The covers are coming on It’s a precautionary measure, but the forecast for the rest of the day is not good. Either way, I’ll be back with you in 15 minutes or so.

3.43pm BST

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3.43pm BST

11th over: Essex 25-0 (Browne 16, Cook 5) Spin at both ends, with Dom Bess coming on for the last over before tea. His first ball skids past Browne’s attempted cut, a dangerous shot given the low bounce, but the rest of the over is repelled comfortably by Browne and Cook. That’s tea.

3.40pm BST

10th over: Essex 24-0 (Browne 15, Cook 5) It’s time for Jack Leach. His third ball turns past everyone for two byes, prompting Somerset to bring in a leg slip to go with the orthodox slip and short leg. Cook tries a bit of timewasting in an attempt to ensure this will be the last over before tea, but he hasn’t succeeded.

3.34pm BST

9th over: Essex 21-0 (Browne 14, Cook 5) Cook jabs at a yorker from Gregory, which ends up in the hands of van der Merwe at gully. He appeals for the catch but nobody else is interested; replays confirm it was a bump ball.

3.31pm BST

8th over: Essex 19-0 (Browne 14, Cook 3) Cook is beaten again, this time by a fuller one from Overton. He has looked less assured than Browne so far. One from the over, and it might be time for some spin.

3.27pm BST

7th over: Essex 18-0 (Browne 14, Cook 2) Gregory goes a touch fuller and is punished by two lovely drives for four by Browne - the first through the covers, the second to the right of mid-on. Excellent batting.

3.23pm BST

6th over: Essex 8-0 (Browne 6, Cook 2) It’s not just spin that Essex need to worry about. The bounce is already uneven, so goodness knows what it will be like by Thursday. Browne and Cook have done well to survive a tricky opening spell, especially from Gregory.

3.20pm BST

5th over: Essex 6-0 (Browne 5, Cook 1) Cook continues to lead a charmed one, fencing a lifter from Gregory over gully to get off the mark. It’s been a brilliant start to the innings from Gregory, who zips another good delivery past Browne’s outside edge.

3.16pm BST

4th over: Essex 5-0 (Browne 5, Cook 0) This is extremely hard work for the Essex openers. Browne survives an LBW appeal from Overton - too high - before being beaten outside off stump. Another maiden.

3.12pm BST

3rd over: Essex 5-0 (Browne 5, Cook 0) Sir Alastair Cook is beaten by consecutive beauties from Gregory that straighten from around the wicket - and he plays and misses at the last delivery of the over as well. A superb maiden from Gregory.

3.09pm BST

2nd over: Essex 5-0 (Browne 5, Cook 0) Craig Overton to Nick Browne: short, wide, four. There’s plenty there for the seamers, though, and Browne is surprised by a delivery that goes through the top and pops past his nose. Somerset are right in this game; and unlike Essex, they have no stick/twist/WHERE’S THAT EFFING MET OFFICE APP SIR BLOODY ALASTAIR dilemmas.

3.05pm BST

1st over: Essex 1-0 (Browne 1, Cook 0) There will be a few overs of seam before the spinners come on. Lewis Gregory starts with a tidy over to Nick Browne, who is beaten by some sharp movement off the penultimate delivery and then survives a token run-out referral after taking a quick single.

3.00pm BST

There has been very little play around the country, because it’s BLOODY AUTUMN.

2.57pm BST

Your thoughts BTL

Ooft this has become pretty blimmin' tantalising.

Some serious batting for Essex to do today and tomorrow. They don't want to have to be out there too long on day 4 with whatever will be left of this pitch.

Harmer has been van der Merdered.

2.53pm BST

That’s the end of a storming innings from Roelof van der Merwe, who misses a reverse sweep and is bowled by Nijjar. It was some performance, though: 60 from 51 balls, including four sixes.

2.50pm BST

60th over: Somerset 201-9 (van der Merwe 58, Leach 11) van der Merwe launches Harmer miles over midwicket for another six. Pick that out! This is outrageous stuff, which has completely changed the mood of the match.

2.46pm BST

59th over: Somerset 194-9 (van der Merwe 51, Leach 11) Pongo! van der Merwe heaves Nijjar miles over long-on to bring up an audacious half-century: 42 balls, three fours and three sixes. A single off the next ball brings up the fifty partnership for the last wicket.

2.41pm BST

59th over: Somerset 187-9 (van der Merwe 44, Leach 11) van der Merwe’s rustic assault has unsettled Harmer, who now has no close fielders when he is on strike. This feels like a very useful score for Somerset, weather permitting.

2.38pm BST

58th over: Somerset 186-9 (van der Merwe 43, Leach 11) The left-arm spinner Aron Nijjar does come into the attack, replacing Porter. A good first over, just one from it.

2.36pm BST

57th over: Somerset 185-9 (van der Merwe 42, Leach 11) Essex have gone on the defensive, and van der Merwe is dictating the play at the moment. A pair of twos and a single off Harmer take him to within of an unlikely half-century.

2.31pm BST

56th over: Somerset 180-9 (van der Merwe 37, Leach 11) Aron Nijjar has bowled only two overs, which suggests a loss of faith from Ryan ten Doeschate. Mind you, the old ball is doing a fair bit for the seamers.

2.28pm BST

55th over: Somerset 179-9 (van der Merwe 36, Leach 11) This has been a fine counter-attack from van der Merwe, who mows Harmer to cow corner for two more. I wonder if his approach will give the Essex batsmen ideas. It takes a certain chutzpah to go after the spinners on a bunsen when you only need a draw, but it’s also asking for trouble to let Jack Leach and the rest settle into a rhythm with men round the bat.

Later in the over, van der Merwe sweeps Harmer on the bounce to deep square leg, where Cook slips over in the Samit style.

2.23pm BST

54th over: Somerset 172-9 (van der Merwe 29, Leach 11) Thanks Tanya, hello everyone. Getting interesting, this. Jamie Porter returns in place of Samuel Cook and has a huge shout for LBW against turned down by Alex Wharf. That looked on the plumb side of close; three reds on Hawkeye confirm its eminent DRSability.

2.20pm BST

53rd over: Somerset 167-9 (Leach 9, van der Merwe 21) Van der Mere scythes Harmer straight over Leach’s head for four. A couple more as Harmer, who holds the ball high in his fingers, almost as if he was displaying a porcelain egg, bowls on, and on.

And that’s it from me, I’ll hand you over to Rob Smyth for the rest of the day - enjoy!

2.17pm BST

52nd over: Somerset 160-9 (Leach 9, van der Merwe 21) A couple of scampered singles, then van der Merwe hits a skyer just short of the fielder. And Somerset add another three to the total. Softly, softy, catchy monkey.

2.13pm BST

51st over: Somerset 157-9 (Leach 8, van der Merwe 19) A boundary from van der Merwe that I missed, and Essex should remember that Leach is very adept at eeking runs from tricky positions.

2.11pm BST

50th over: Somerset 152-9 (Leach 8, van der Merwe 14) A huge cheer for Headingley hero Jack Leach who gets off the mark straight away with a thick edge for four before driving Cook through third man for another boundary and adding half again to Cook’s runs conceded tally in two balls. The cameras pan to a grey haired bloke in the crowd - blimey, that’s John Cleese. Yesterday, another Conservative with experience of the courts, Jeffrey Archer, spent a rainy afternoon at Taunton.

2.05pm BST

A sensational ball that nips in off the scrambled seam to destroy Bess’s stumps. That’s Cook’s fourth wicket - for just 15.

2.04pm BST

49th over: Somerset 144-8 ( Bess 10, van der Merwe 14) Harmer again, in a No. 11 shirt, no vest. All proceeds as normal until Van der Merwe keeps his wrists low and reverse-sweep-dinks him over the fielder at deep backward point for six.

1.58pm BST

48th over: Somerset 138-8 ( Bess 10, van der Merwe 8) Van der Merwe is taking charge, Yes!, No! he shouts at his partner, but then Cook squares him up like a kipper, legs twisted. Just a single from the over.

1.55pm BST

47th over: Somerset 137-8 ( Bess 10, van der Merwe 7) And there we are, van der Merwe gets down on one knee and sweeps Harmer’s first ball for six - what’s the fuss about, he sniffs? Then he pancakes one, somewhat disdainfully, over his shoulder for a single. Bess is watchful.

1.52pm BST

46th over: Somerset 130-8 ( Bess 10, van der Merwe 0) Not that things are much easier from Sam Cook’s end. A maiden. Somerset could really do with at least another 20 - from somewhere...

1.49pm BST

45th over: Somerset 130-8 ( Bess 10) Harmer resumes, sunglasses on, and immediately gets two lbws. Somerset need quick runs, preferably in the next over before they have to face Harmer again.

1.48pm BST

The second wicket of Harmer’s first over after lunch. Overton, hangdog, trots off. Ah, the replay shows it was a little high.

1.45pm BST

Abell steps back and Harmer’s delivery follows him, fixing him straight in front of the stumps.

1.42pm BST

44th over: Somerset 126-6 (Abell 45, Bess 10) Sam Cook, shirt untucked, mucky trouser legs, picks up the first over after lunch, his fifteenth over of the game. He’s as accurate as ever but his fifth ball whizzes through low almost trimming the heads off the grass (if there was any). A maiden.

1.39pm BST

And the players are out as we prepare to resume after lunch.

1.03pm BST

Perhaps that was a well-timed break for grub after all as the covers are wheeled on at Taunton. Round the grounds, play has already been called off for the day at Edgbaston and there has been no play anywhere else except Chester-le-Street where..

Durham 262-8 (Watling 104; Hogan 4-35) v Glamorgan

1.00pm BST

43rd over: Somerset 126-6 (Abell 45, Bess 10) Abell survives a chance of sorts at short leg but the ball dipped very quickly in front of (Bopara)‘s hands. That is followed by a wristy drive with the back foot well in the crease that was simply edible. Then a couple more as the anoraks are pulled on in the crowd and the players skip off for lunch.

12.56pm BST

42nd over: Somerset 118-6 (Abell 41, Bess 9) Just a snappy single from Porter’s over, and only a couple more to survive until that controversial lunch.

12.52pm BST

40th over: Somerset 117-6 (Abell 40, Bess 9) “Skills Harmy,” cries a fielder, but the sprinkling of rain that fell a few overs ago seems to have calmed the pitch a little, stroked it, pitch-whispered. Abell and Bess bat on.

12.51pm BST

39th over: Somerset 116-6 (Abell 39, Bess 9) Some very interesting talk from Mark Ramprakash and Ebony Rainford-Brent about the Lions and pressure on players to change once they fall on the ECB radar. They’ve been watching Jamie Porter’s run-up which, now I study it, does look rather laboured. But then I haven’t seen enough of Porter to know if it was ever thus.

12.46pm BST

38th over: Somerset 114-6 (Abell 33, Bess 7) I’ve not much to say about that Harmer over, a maiden, as I was reading this absolutely lovely email from Harry in Vietnam.

Good Evening (Morning) Tanya,

12.43pm BST

37th over: Somerset 113-6 (Abell 33, Bess 7) Under his maroon helmet, Tom Abell is clean shaven - quite rare in a sportsman at the moment. [ I must admit I’m a sucker for a bit of stubble] Anyway - that is a gorgeous drive by Abell as Cook stays a little, really classy, giving his bat face a great show.

12.37pm BST

36th over: Somerset 108-6 (Abell 33, Bess 7) Mark Ramprakash is on the mike, and is impressed with Dom Bess’s footwork. Forward he goes, back he goes, and that is a very handy outside edge from Abell which flies past the right hand of the diving Cook at slip for four. Nine from Harmer’s over as a shower passes slowly over the ground.

12.33pm BST

35th over: Somerset 99-6 (Abell 29, Bess 2) Sam Cook is poetry in motion. Non-demonstrative, he pitches the ball on a dime and beats the edge ball, after ball, after ball.

A magnificent email arrives.

12.29pm BST

34th over: Somerset 98-6 (Abell 29, Bess 1) Two off Harmer, more importantly they survive him. 150 would be a good effort from here.

12.27pm BST

33rd over: Somerset 96-6 (Abell 28, Bess 0) Dom Bess, whose nascent batting career is remembered by two innings - his 57 against Pakistan and his heave-ho against Lancashire in the Championship match here last year - watchfully plays out the remainder of Cook’s over.

12.21pm BST

I don’t think Gregory will want to see a replay of that. He tottered forward so his leg was just in front of the stumps, and left the ball. Cook was laughing as he celebrated.

12.19pm BST

32nd over: Somerset 96-5 (Abell 28, Gregory 17) Now Rob Key has mentioned Harmer’s big hands, I can’t keep my eyes off them. They’re huge. Hams - big fat Christmas ones. A single, an lbw shout and a possible chance grassed by Alastair Cook off the over.

12.17pm BST

32nd over: Somerset 95-5 (Abell 28, Gregory 16) The excellent Cook strays just a hand off his length and Abell flicks with some style - another boundary. Five dots follow.

Gareth Wilson is also feeling the pain of the break for sandwiches, “Hi Tanya- cricket doesn’t help itself, does it? Start play at noon then stop for lunch at 1? Seriously? Why not play till 2? It’s so frustrating.....”

12.14pm BST

31st over: Somerset 91-5 (Abell 24, Gregory 16) Gregory uses his feet turns and swivel-pulls Harmer to the leg-side boundary. This has to be the way, surely? No one is gong to out-bat Harmer. What’s this? He swings again, and gets an inside edge past the stumps, past the keeper for four more. And again! A precariously lucky edge that flies past Alastair Cook at slip. And then a fourth boundary, a textbook force off the back foot. Sixteen tasty runs off the over.

12.09pm BST

31st over: Somerset 75-5 (Abell 24, Gregory 0) A maiden from Sam Cook. It’s breezy out there in the middle and I take back what I said earlier, there is some blue sky up to the left behind the church.

12.06pm BST

30th over: Somerset 75-5 (Abell 24, Gregory 0) Classic Harmer. Such a menacing force, he goes round the wicket to Gregory who scuttles forward and survives the over.

12.03pm BST

A breakthrough in Harmer’s first over of the day as Bartlett goes back and turns the ball straight into the mitts of Bopara.

12.01pm BST

29th over: Somerset 75-4 (Abell 24, Bartlett 5) Cook finishes off his over prorogued yesterday by rain - a snorter that skids past the outside of Abell’s bat.

12.00pm BST

Aha! We have some action at Taunton, the players are out, the sky is greyish, but Sam Cook is bowling in short sleeves.

11.52am BST

Thank you! My inbox over-floweth. And yes, the thing that has enraged you all is the good old English lunch-break.

Mark Hooper growls, “The deciding match of the championship and they allow an hour’s play before stopping for lunch! You’d think that, just for once, they could just make do with a couple of satsumas and a protein shake? And then have a break when it rains again LIKE IT’S GOING TO DO ALL WEEK!”

11.48am BST

They’re playing cricket at Chester-le-Street, where at least one person is nail nibbling. Durham 238-8 against promotion possibles Glamorgan, with BJ Watling 93 not out.

@tjaldred They have been playing at Chester-le-Street again - one wicket and several boundaries achieved. (From an anxious @Gloscricket fan in Newcastle looking out of the office window praying for rain in these parts)

11.41am BST

Right, come on people, someone send me an email. That monkey on your back- the Cricketer’s Power List, the best chocolate bars to see you through autumn, the young player to watch for 2020 - give it a nudge.

11.21am BST

Away from the Supreme Court to Taunton, where the umpires have decided that play will start at noon with lunch taken at one o’clock.

Rob Key is out on the pitch, which is dry as a bone - the drainage system has played a blinder . The players are on the outfield stretching, bending, chewing the fat. The groundsmen are digging forks into the boundary edge.

10.59am BST

So .... Boris Johnson’s prorogation of Parliament was illegal...

Lady Hale: Legality of prorogration is justiceable.

Lady Hale: PM's advice to Queen was unlawful.

Lady Hale: Parliament is not prorogued.@NickFriend1: BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR KOLPAKS!!!

"Boris, you're going to have to reverse your decision" pic.twitter.com/wYwFe7E6vA

10.53am BST

And through the precipitation pings an email:

“I failed yesterday to respond to your question, “if you had to give the ECB 100 lines, what would the sentence be?” writes Kim Thonger.

10.48am BST

Ah, we now have a full house. The rain is falling at Chester-le-Street too.

Still, some happy quotes from Dom Sibley who has more than deserved his chance to pull on the England cap this winter.

10.38am BST

The television is now working, though with subtitles, and I’ve turned on to find Dominic Cork talking about Simon Harmer’s BIG HANDS. The rain has stopped at Taunton so, while we wait, here are some Marcus Trescothick magic memories.

https://t.co/y3YRYwuYAf

10.21am BST

Ah. Thanks for the tip below the line - it is also raining in Canterbury and the start is delayed at Hove, Lord’s and Grace Road - where the club describe the prospects of play today as “bleak.”

But play will start on time at The Riverside! A glass raised to more autumn cricket north of Hartlepool.

☔️ | The rain is still going strong at @Spitfire_Ground and puddles are forming on the outfield

Very small prospects of play...#SuperKent pic.twitter.com/HAecsjWVNK

10.14am BST

If you missed the tour squads yesterday, (and rather exciting they were too) here is Ali’s take on them - omission of YJB and all.

Related: Jonny Bairstow left out of England Test squad for New Zealand tour

10.09am BST

Elsewhere the news is ... damp. There will be no play before lunch at The Oval or Edgbaston, and things are also delayed at the crucial Division Two promotion bash at Bristol, with Gloucestershire perched uncomfortably in the dressing-room at 80 for 6.

10.04am BST

Good morning from heavy-sponged Manchester - and a soggy looking Taunton, where the super sopper is out and mopping furiously. The Met Office site shows signs of hope - clear weather between 10 and 2 - if the groundsmen can dry the outfield in time to get the players out before the next fat plopping rain clouds return. The umpires are due to peer again at the pitch at 11am.

Yesterday’s match stopped just before lunch with Somerset 75-4 on a dustbowl against the wiles of Simon Harmer and Sam Cook. It was tricky out there. As James Hildreth: said, “I think anything above 200 will be a good score. Every run out there seems massive”

UPDATES ➡️ https://t.co/dF6GhNA901#SOMvESS #WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/Vn3C9HzZp2

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