Simon Harmer is drying the ball furiously on a towel every time it is thrown to him before each delivery.

Jaydn Denly plays out a maiden.

There's rain about but the light is good.

The sun is trying to breakthrough.

Sawdust delay.

Lewis Gregory in for a chat with his South African bowler Migael Pretorius.

Seven from the over.

Deliberate edge for two from Smith, 50 partnership in quick time.

159 needed off 14 overs.

Great running from Surrey, pinching two.

Run rate required is 11.1, currently they are going at 10.67

The walkie talkies have come out.

I think they've asked for the floodlights.

It is very dark out there.

Joe Root is back on and Ben Charlesworth plays out a maiden.

Charlesworth has played a gem of an innings in these circumstances - 29 off 77 balls.

Better over from the overseas man Migael Pretorius, it is getting very dark out there now though, honestly.

Jamie Smith's helmet is checked after a small clunk to it, but he is not worried, just the concussion protocol and thus Somerset having a drinks break taking a few seconds out of this chase.

Jaydn Denly and Nathan Gilchrist survive the remainder of Simon Harmer's over.

Eleven more overs to go.

The covers are off and the players are back out after a 15-minute delay. I say players - Essex are out there, Kent's batters are taking a little more time...

Essex need three wickets to wrap up another astonishing final-day victory in the County Championship.

Simon Harmer to complete the over he began before the rain came - and an absolute ripper of an off-spinner to start with! How did that miss the stumps?!

Still time for quality, textbook cricket shots, and Dan Lawrence obliges, straight driving down the ground for two.

22 off 12 for the former Essex man.

Somerset need a good over, a wicket just to regain a bit of control.

It's all running out of control for Somerset at the moment

It's just not happening for Yorkshire.

Ben Charlesworth and Graeme van Buuren have seen out 14 overs for the hosts.

A wicket would change everything mind.

First dot ball of the innings, then a one, then Craig Overton goes fuller and wider for another dot.

T20 cricket without the white ball wide lines, a fascinating watch.

Run rate 12, but will the weather allow enough time for this match to finish?

Essex are still in the ascendancy.

The hoop covers are on but I'm confident we will get more play.

Jamie Smith, what a player.

Six off Craig Overton into the Members Pavilion.

How wrong of me to write Surrey off, this is why they are Champions and probably already Champions-elect such is their strength in depth they expect to win at home and will take on the impossible to do so.

MS Dohni-style helicopter swing and edge for four for Dan Lawrence later in the over too as I refrain from offering to help James Rew look for the ball under the covers, Surrey groundstaff come to the rescue.

How do Somerset contain?

Fielders on the boundary = easy twos, in the ring = more chance of boundaries.

Does Lewis Gregory want wickets?

Surrey screaming the ball along the turf here.

Not everyone is on the boundary...actually yes now they are, and why not, they may as well be.

The overseas player, who played that poor shot less than 20 minutes ago, Migael Pretorius is bowling the second over.

Jamie Smith and Dan Lawrence are cooking here.

Smith eight off three and Lawrence six off three.

Ridiculously good shots by both off Craig Overton's first over.

While Jaydn Denly and Nathan Gilchrist were shielding for cover in the pavilion, the Essex fielders were helping their ground staff bring on the covers to protect the pitch.

If the rain relents, the quicker they can get back out there, the better for the home side.

Image source, Rex Features