Nick Gledhill
BBC Essex commentator

A fascinating session which ended with Alastair Cook and Nick Browne just getting through a threatening new-ball spell from Lewis Gregory and Craig Overton.

Somerset’s 59-run last -icket partnership between Roelof van der Merwe and Jack Leach has changed the momentum of the match in the home side’s favour.

Such was van der Merwe’s impact that defensive fields were set to get Leach on strike. But that strategy only helped to prolong the innings until he attempted an unwise reverse sweep against Aron Nijjar on 60.

Batting did look easier against the older ball. Essex will look to conserve wickets and hope that their middle order can take advantage. But they will have to counter Leach and Dom Bess on a turning pitch.

Autumnal weather. The gift that just keeps giving.

Not long now. If the weather holds.

Big turn for Jack Leach - too much in fact, and the ball runs away for two byes.

Alastair Cook decides his laces need re-tying mid-over - and that should ensure there won't be another over before the interval.

Nick Browne whips the next ball away for a single and Cook plays no stroke to Leach's final delivery.

No play at all today here. Sorry, folks.

The overhead conditions looked promising but the field was just too damp.

The breeze is picking up at Hove and some dark clouds are drifting away.

Four runs to Brown with a pull to square leg.

Wayne Parnell pushes the ball out wide and Brown leaves.

The umpire is having a chat with the bowler about his follow-through.

Two runs to Alastair Cook from the latest Lewis Gregory over, and we are now going to see spin. Here comes Jack Leach.

Brown dabs Finch down to third man for four. A bit too much width there.

Brown is moving outside the line of off stump and Finch is bowling round the wicket.

This is good stuff from Craig Overton, who has lifted his pace a tad and he can hardly believe it as Alastair Cook is squared up but managed to take one off the outside edge. If that had beaten the bat and struck the pad, he might have been gone.

No play here today so far - but we just might get some overs in this afternoon.

Clark turns the ball away to mid on for one off Finch. He'll keep the strike.

Some heavy cloud cover is circling Hove...

Wayne Parnell to bowl... His first ball is stroked through the covers for four.

It isn't a half-volley by Lewis Gregory, but Nick Browne drives superbly through the line and finds the boundary at extra cover as he moves into double figures.

Gregory does overpitch later in the over and Browne hits it back past the stumps for another four. Perfect timing again by the left-hander.

A single each for Alastair Cook and Nick Browne off Craig Overton. There are about 15 minutes left before the scheduled tea interval. Consult your watches, Essex fans.

Charlie Morris tries to york Ben Brown - who jabs the blade down and digs the ball out.

Morris drops short... Brown shimmies across and hammers the ball through mid-wicket for four.

20 runs added since we resumed at 3pm.

Image source, Rex Features

Alastair Cook collects his first run, but he wasn't in control of that stroke as the ball from Lewis Gregory bounced more than he expected and lobbed away over the slips.

Partner Nick Browne is leading a bit of charmed life as he plays and misses again. Wonder what Brian, the Somerset cat, who is watching from the boundary fence, made of that.

Finch drops short and Clark pulls with a flourish to mid-wicket for four.

No early breakthrough for the Pears.

Craig Overton jags one back sharply at Nick Browne and raises his arms in appeal, but that one was going over the top of the stumps. He's a big tall lad is Craig. Another maiden. The pressure increases.

Another stop and start kind of day here where the weather just won't settle one way or the other.

Pitch inspection at 1520 BST.

Brown tucks Morris to deep backward square for one.

Clark is well forward and blocking into the off side.