Jamie Overton clips Jamie Porter between the two short legs and away for four.

So close. Jordan Clark plays down the wrong line and Simon Harmer just misses off stump. Four over left - one more before the new ball.

Ouch. Noah Thain wears one on his shin at silly mid-off as Jordan Clark drives a full length ball from Simon Harmer.

Image source, Getty Images

Hands have stretched across respective balconies home and away at Wantage Road to shake on a draw.

That is a shame after the best part of four days of competitive cricket but the rain interruptions have done for a contest poised with Glocs needing 136 for victory with just five second innings wicket in tact.

Of the two it will be the visitors who are happier given the dismissal of James Bracey before the final rain break appeared to tilt the battle the way of the home side.

There will also be some frustration in Northants' ranks that they could not hammer home the win after Saif Zaib's first innings 159 put them in control early.

Cameron Bancroft and Miles Hammond batted well for Glocs today putting on 98 for third wicket after coming together with the side in bother at 35-2.

Ultimately that stand allowed Glocs to reach the rain in good enough shape to cling on for a draw.

Sharing a 13 points a side draw leaves the pair anchored solidly in mid table going into the summer break with Glocs in fifth and Northants a place below and both teams with still only one win this season.

Essex think they have Jordan Clark as he tries to pull and Dean Elgar takes a leaping catch at first slip. But it's arm not glove and Clark is not out.

Five overs left - two to the new ball.

Oh, how disappointing. The covers are back on at New Road and it is raining quite heavily out there now.

We had been informed that play was set to resume at 17:45 BST but more rain has arrived and we're in danger of not seeing another ball here at the end of this local derby with Warwickshire in need of just two wickets for victory.

Again, any further updates and we will let you know.

Two down the ground to long-on for Jamie Overton in that over. He is ringed by fielders but survives. Six left for Surrey to face.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

Ooh there are some umbrellas going up again now, it is blowing an absolute gale again now too!

Not easy this for either side!

That one leaps off a length and Jordan Clark hurriedly takes his bottom hand off the bat. He jabs down on the next one and the over is at an end.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

That is a very sensible option from Essex, having their twelfth man and coaches sweeping just beyond the boundary rope to get the ball back on quickly after anytime Surrey find the boundary.

Jamie Overton pushes a single off Jamie Porter and the Surrey total reaches 250.

The next one is wide and Jordan Clark square cuts for four.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

Yet again Jordan Clark is going to have a lot of company around his bat.

What Harmer wants to do is have Clark propping forward.

Resolute in defence Jordan Clark blocks out four deliveries from Simon Harmer and the over is done. Eight more to come.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

The players are returning.

No sign yet of Jordan Clark or Jamie Overton though.

8.4 overs remaining, are we going to get through them?

If we do it will be very interesting.

Out we go again with Essex requiring four more wickets.

Good news if you're of a Warwickshire persuasion.

At last, it's been confirmed play will resume at Worcestershire at 17:45 BST with a minimum of 10.4 overs remaining in the day.

Remember, Warwickshire are just two wickets from victory.

The covers are coming off again and Essex director of cricket Chris Silverwood is stood, arms folded, at the boundary edge and willing the groundstaff to do their work a just a fraction quicker.

It will be a 17:30 restart, with eight more overs after Simon Harmer has finished his incomplete one. That WOULD give Essex three at the end with a new ball.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

No-one really seems to know what's going on here, they are taking the covers off but the Essex team have gone back into the dressing room.

The other thing is if there were eight overs (I'm speculating) left, they could get three overs with the new ball.

At the moment we are just waiting to hear what the equation is and how many more overs we might get here tonight.

Mark Church
BBC Radio London commentator

I think we'll get back out there, but the problem from an Essex point of view is that we are losing overs.

Don Topley
BBC Essex

I remember turning up at Taunton in September last year, the game looked done but then a couple of wickets later suddenly it was alive again in the final hour!

Cricket is never over and that is why we love it

Rain stops play at The Oval.published at 74.2 overs

74.2 overs

Surrey 249-6 v Essex

Five men now round the bat for Simon Harmer. The tension mounts.

And then the rain sweeps in again.

Talk about killing the mood.