With Taunton in the grip of rain, an early tea is called and stalls Somerset's victory charge.

Archie Vaughan has taken two wickets, while Jack Leach could have had more than just his solitary scalp as Somerset took three quick wickets.

But opener Dom Sibley remains there with a steadfast innings of 38 from 134 balls as Surrey look to shut the game down and escape from the West Country with a draw.

The hosts will need to take a gamble for quick wickets when/if they get back out. More overs look certain to be lost.

50 for Harry Finchpublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 12 September

14:57 BST 12 September

Kent 207 & 257-5 v Hampshire 403

Harry Finch fell for 44 in the first innings but no such struggles to reach fifty in the second dig.

He edges thickly through gully and to the four runs needed for his half-century.

Kent's lead is 60, with seven overs to the second new ball and 41 overs in the day.

Zafar Gohar plays around the pad to block Josh de Caires down the ground.

A bit of a leading edge there but the ball lands safely.

Zafar pushes defensively into the off side now as De Caires bowls very full.

Another maiden over.

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Middlesex bring on Toby Roland-Jones for a likely final spell of bowling in this game.

He's replacing Luke Hollman in the attack.

Tom Price misses a glance to leg and an appeal for LBW is turned down.

The batter hardly moved from the crease but that ball was leg side.

A drive to mid on nearly brings a run out after a brilliant pick up and throw with Zafar out of his ground for seemingly an age before being sent back.

Another drive down the ground is picked up at mid on. Maiden over.

Anthony Gibson
BBC Radio Somerset

I think that rain is going to spoil what might have been an absolutely thrilling finish here.

This isn't just a passing shower, this is quite a serious downpour that I think we're in for.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Price tries to whip a ball from Josh de Caires through the on side but the ball is taken on the bounce at mid wicket.

A flashing drive on the front foot through cover brings a single with the Middlesex field set deep.

38 to win.

Rain stops play at Tauntonpublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 12 September

14:49 BST 12 September

Surrey 63-3 - target 221

The sun is shining at Taunton, but the rain has struck up and the umpires have decided to take the players off.

Somerset players don't seem impressed and stand there, hoping for a change of heart. Their hopes fall on deaf ears.

Heavier rain looks set to sweep in, so perhaps getting the covers on now, will save them a few overs in the long run.

Whatever the reason, it's massively frustrating.

Zafar Gohar is off the mark, driving Luke Hollman for three.

Single to Tom Price, cutting to deep cover and Zafar will get a couple more with a thick outside edge past slip when it looked like he was aiming a drive through cover.

A leg side ball evades Zafar and the keeper for two leg byes.

Eight off the over.

100 partnership between Leaning and Finchpublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 12 September

14:46 BST 12 September

Kent 207 & 241-5 v Hampshire 403

James Fuller tangles feet with Jack Leaning and goes to ground. The umpire waves play on despite Fuller's pleading!

Leaning responds by crunching a pair of pulled fours and that is a century stand with Harry Finch.

This is the highest partnership of the match.

Dom Sibley drives Jack Leach down the ground, but then there's a huge appeal for caught behind.

They all go up, but Sibley indicates it was his bat that hit the ground creating the noise.

He then sweeps for four to move to 38 before Leach beats the outside edge. Honours even.

Image source, Getty Images

Tom Price is forward to Josh de Caires, defending into the off side.

He'll get runs off the fifth ball, driven firmly through extra cover for four.

A bit wider and a fuller length there.

He plays back to a quicker ball to block and see out the over.

Dan Whiting
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The Bible said Job had patience, perseverance, showed great endurance, and was steadfast under intense pressure.

Let me tell you, Job has got nothing on Diminic Sibley.

If Kent can continue on their current trajectory in this match, and get a draw, they will be 36 points away from safety.

There are only 48 points still on offer so it would take an incredible effort to stay in Division One, but they will take plenty of heart from this partnership between Jack Leaning and Harry Finch.

They have added 94 for the sixth wicket. The lead is now 36 with 44 overs left in the day.

Josh de Caires has three wickets for three runs in 10 balls and the game has swung back massively towards Middlesex, who must have turned to spin as much in hope as expectation.

Zafar Gohar pushes the ball safely into the on side to see out the over.

Luke Hollman bowls over the wicket to Tom Price, who gets a single pushed to mid on.

Zafar is down the track to drive but Hollman picks the ball up off his own bowling.

Ben Foakes ticks off another over as Jack Leach bags his umpteenth set of six dots balls.

It's looking dark over the Quantock Hills. Let's hope the rain does not spoil our fun.

Dom Sibley works a full ball from Archie Vaughan through backward point for a single.

Foakes then goes down the track and flicks through legside past Tom Abell for his first boundary to move to five off 28 nuggety balls.

Vaughan then turns one into Foakes' pads but it's high and outside the line.

50 up for Surreypublished at 14:34 British Summer Time 12 September

14:34 BST 12 September

Surrey 50-3 - target 221

Ben Foakes has company with four close catchers waiting to pounce on the slightest miscalculation.

He plays it out without alarm as Jack Leach chalks up a fifth successive maiden - and 10th in all.

Dom Sibley drives hard to mid-off as Archie Vaughan tempts himwith a bit of loop. But it's cut off. No run.

Sibley gets a couple through the offside to bring up the Surrey fifty.

It's come off 226 balls. I don't think they're going for the win.

Tom Price is forward, pushing into the off side to see out the over.

Still 55 needed but that will feel like an awful lot if Middlesex can prize out James Bracey now.

Bracey defends Luke Hollman down the ground.

He tries to work a ball to leg but it's blocked at mid wicket.

Maiden over.