Nick Gledhill
BBC Essex commentator

Image source, Rex

Those two Simon Harmer wickets, taking him to 80 for the season, have damaged Somerset’s best case scenario of batting once and hoping to make Essex follow on.

With the weather intervening earlier than expected the game is going to have to move very quickly for Somerset to have any chance.

It is worth noting that by not signing an overseas bowler for the last three games, Essex have given themselves the flexibility of bringing in Aron Nijjar on a pitch which is already showing signs of the expected sharp turn.

Nijjar has made occasional first-team appearances since his 2015 debut, but we can expect to see more of him next year as Essex anticipate England interest in Harmer in 2021.

Ben Charlesworth is on the front foot driving Doug Bracewell through point for four.

The ball was airborne for a while but lands safely.

Gloucestershire need at least one batting bonus point, surely. They need nine points overall to go up.

News of Gloucestershire's meltdown on a benign pitch at Bristol will give Glamorgan a spring in their step as they need a big win here and a Gloucester defeat to overtake their rivals and go up to the top flight.

Angus Robson is on his toes fending off a bumper from Hogan.

At the other end - Alex Lees drives Lukas Carey through mid-off for four.

Daniel Bell-Drummond is holding the Kent innings together at Canterbury. He has 39 not out and they are 77-5 in the 25th over against Hampshire.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore is still going along nicely for Yorkshire against Warwickshire. He is now on 69, with the visitors 111-1 in the 26th.

Scott Borthwick is 45 not out at The Oval, with Surrey 100-2 in the 27th over against Nottinghamshire. England's Ollie Pope is his partner following the loss of Mark Stoneman and Jamie Smith.

Somerset 75-4 v Essexpublished at 12:16 British Summer Time 23 September 2019

12:16 BST 23 September 2019

Abell 24, Bartlett 5

George Bartlett takes a sharp single into the covers and three balls later the players head for the dressing rooms as the rain sets in at Taunton. Let's hope this won't be a long interruption.

Bob Hunt
BBC Radio Gloucestershire

Would you Adam and Eve it?

Somerset 74-4 v Essexpublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 23 September 2019

12:14 BST 23 September 2019

Abell 24, Bartlett 4

George Bartlett flicks Simon Harmer round the corner and Ravi Bopara, at leg slip, gets a hand to the ball but can't take the chance. Two runs - and a fortunate escape - for the Somerset batsman.

George Bartlett is under way with a single off Sam Cook. He is the final specialist batsman in the Somerset line-up, so this really is a crucial partnership for the home side. Having included three spinners in their side, they really need to post some sort of total in their first innings.

Cook appeals for leg-before against Tom Abell, but there is nothing doing from the umpire. Cook has 2-4 from his eight overs so far.

Image source, Rex Features

Bob Hunt
BBC Radio Gloucestershire

It hasn't been a good morning for Gloucestershire. You just can't sugar coat it, really.

from @MarkWelshie14: "Now that @hantscricket, external got the win last week against them, I really hope @SomersetCCC, external go on and win the county championship this week! #SOMvESS, external#bbccricket, external"

Varun Chopra
Essex batsman on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra

"I think there's going to be enough cricket played over the next four days for there to be a result in this game."

Essex bring back Sam Cook for a second spell after just a couple of overs from Aron Nijjar.

The weather is now closing in as Tom Abell is beaten between bat and pad Cook cuts one back off the seam.

He starts, as he began his opening spell, with a maiden.

Alex Lees and Cameron Steel will get the innings started for the hosts.

Michael Hogan will bowl.

Glamorgan need a big win here and will hope Gloucestershire lose at Bristol so they can grab the third promotion spot.

So far so good on that front for Glamorgan...

Simon Harmer sends down a rare full toss and Tom Abell makes no mistake as he puts it away through the covers for four.

Abell then flicks away through square leg, but has to settle for two as Dan Lawrence fields just inside the rope.

Varun Chopra
Essex batsman on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra

"You can feel a few drops (of rain) in the air now. Hopefully we can get through to lunchtime."

Two wickets in an over for Nottinghamshire's Paul Coughlin, who has Surrey opener Mark Stoneman caught down the leg-side for 31 and Jamie Smith taken in more conventional fashion by keeper Tom Moores as the home side reach 75-2 in the 19th over.

Darren Stevens is now at the crease for Kent in what may be his final Championship game for the club, pending the outcome of contract talks. They are 55-5 after 19 overs against Hampshire - with 3-19 so far for Keith Barker.

Warwickshire have their first wicket against Yorkshire, with Adam Lyth gone for 26. Tom Kohler-Cadmore is 56 not out and has been joined by Championship debutant Tom Loten.