Jordan Cox batted very well for his hundred but will Essex rue (or Rew!?) him retiring hurt straight after he brought up his personal landmark, allowing the vulnerable middle-order to collapse thereafter.

James Rew has already passed Cox for the player of the match gong you would think, surely Somerset cannot even lose from here, but heart-rates in the ground would stay rather lower if he and his tall North Devonian mate can stay together until 45 more runs are scored.

This game will not get to lunch now you would have thought.

Century for James Rewpublished at 11:56 British Summer Time 5 May

11:56 BST 5 May

Somerset 145 & 274-6 (target 321) v Essex 206 & 259

A 10th first-class century already for 21-year-old James Rew who milks Sam Cook into the legside for one giving Craig Overton the strike, who takes another two, then when back on strike vs Jamie Porter punches a dot to mid off before punching through midwicket for two.

16 fours, 161 balls.

Calls for him to solve Somerset's opening issue and get brother Thomas Rew in to keep (maybe once Kings College have had him for a few academic exams first), will probably be nullified once again with him excelling in the number six position.

Under 50 now for Somerset to win.

Emily Windsor
BBC Radio Solent commentator

That came from absolutely nowhere, it didn't look like it was going to rain but I think think there was cloud coming from behind us.

It's heavy drizzle, the heavens opened out of nowhere.

Paul Newton
BBC Essex sport

Essex will certainly have to look at this if they don't win it and at the moment they don't look like winning it as a golden opportunity to record back-to-back victories having beaten Worcestershire in the previous match a fortnight ago.

One first ball from Craig Overton off Jamie Porter into a surprisingly large leg side gap.

Maybe for the short ball?

Odd to see deep square out for the seventh ball with a new nut to a batter on just 17*.

Porter pitches up to James Rew of course, not quick enough to bowl short to either of these, Rew leaves the first two outside off then inside edges for four, the most fortuitous stroke of the day yet.

He is now 97*.

Rain stops playpublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 5 May

11:47 BST 5 May

Hants 460-8 (trail by 51 runs) v Durham 511

Spots of rain at the Utilita Bowl and the players are making their way off.

Simon Harmer will not take the new ball, it will be Jamie Porter from the River End.

Craig Overton is rapped on the pads first ball, bit more pace with the harder new ball of course.

Four leg byes next ball to mammoth cheers from around the ground.

Another single for Overton into leg.

Somerset fans have been put through the mill in their 150 years of existence and after a particularly hard first month this result really could be mammoth for their season.

100 up for Middlesexpublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 5 May

11:45 BST 5 May

Middx 238 & 100-3 v Kent 129 & 473

A quick single and Middlesex have three figures.

Only another 265 required but Stephen Eskinazi and Luke Hollman have added 19 this morning and are going okay so far this morning

Keaton Jennings and George Bell have settled any nerves Lancashire might have had this morning.

They've raced onto 49-0 in their second innings against Gloucestershire, trailing by 90.

Derbyshire have picked up a wicket at Glamorgan - Blair Tickner got Andy Gorvin.

Glamorgan are 154-6 and 235 in front.

Image source, Getty Images

New ballpublished at 11:42 British Summer Time 5 May

11:42 BST 5 May

Somerset 145 & 258-6 (target 321) v Essex 206 & 259

'Now the fun starts' spurts Richard Latham next to me.

The Somerset pair were making hay easily against the old ball, so Essex had to take this opportunity immediately.

'This now feels like the crucial moment of this game' says BBC Somerset's Charlie Taylor, all agreed, 63 still Somerset need.

One run cut from Craig Overton out to deep point.

James Rew ducks under a bumper from Kasun Rajitha then takes one through the covers, more good fielding from the Essex eight who have played all four days, plus their three substitute fielders this morning.

Paul Newton
BBC Essex sport

Certainly with this old ball, there is very little hint of even slow turn for Simon Harmer.

Somerset have contented themselves with mainly picking up singles off Harmer and taking a rather richer reward from the quicker bowling which has been far too wayward this morning.

Chance!published at 11:39 British Summer Time 5 May

11:39 BST 5 May

Middx 238 & 98-3 v Kent 129 & 473

Of sorts... Chris Benjamin is standing up to the medium pace of Joey Evison, Stephen Eskinazi has edged it, but the chance goes down.

To be fair to the Kent wicketkeeper, he has no time to react to a significant deflection and the ball hits his right thigh and hits the deck.

Eskinazi had 18 at the time.

Just one off another accurate Simon Harmer over, Craig Overton whipping through leg off the back foot.

Two more overs with this ball, I am 99% sure they will take the new one instantly.

A slice of fortune for James Rew as he slices it past slip and 'keeper for four to move into the 90s.

The second slip was taken out and even with first slip at more 1.5 it is four past third to the shortest boundary in front of the long room.

He then plinks a pull shot aerially between the two deep leg fielders, safe, but not as assured as previous shots.

More great fielding, this time from that man who trained down here last night (Robin Das), denies Rew another four.

My commentary colleague Vic Marks is off for a lie down, this drama is all getting a bit too much for many up here in the press box.

Image source, Getty Images

Paul Newton
BBC Essex sport

Essex haven't bowled straight enough. Not so much Simon Harmer who has been his usual impeccable self, but the quicker bowlers have just strayed in line and length far too often and aided the Somerset cause.

Somerset have shown very good judgement in balls to hit and balls to leave.

A delightful late cut from James Rew off Simon Harmer for four, then a single nears Somerset to the 250 mark, but 74 needed is the only figure that matters to the home side.

Great judgement from Craig Overton sees him leave Harmer a coat of varnish past leg stump.