Summary

  • Essex earn draw to win title despite collapsing after tea

  • Jack Leach took 5-32 before Somerset forfeited second innings

  • Marcus Trescothick on field as sub fielder at end of game before retiring

  • Gloucs & Northants promoted after Glamorgan game abandoned

  • Final day also washed out at Canterbury, Edgbaston, The Oval and Hove

Live Reporting

Paul Grunill and Ben Pheazey

  1. Henry Moeran
    BBC 5 Live Sports Extra

    "The summer of 2019 is going right to the end."

  2. Essex 5-0 - target 63

    Browne 1, A Cook 4

    Jack Leach drops short outside leg stump and Alastair Cook is able to flick it away fine for a boundary.

    He pads away the final delivery as another over ticks by.

    Remember, Somerset must win this game to take the title, Essex only need to avoid being bowled out.

  3. Essex 1-0 - target 63

    Browne 1, A Cook 0

    Somerset skipper Tom Abell urges his players on as Dom Bess prepares for another over.

    The first delivery spins past the edge of Nick Browne's bat - a classic off-break.

    No damage done, though, for Essex in that over.

  4. Anthony Gibson
    BBC Somerset

    "You could tell from the reaction of the close catchers that appeal was more in hope than in expectation."

  5. Essex 1-0 - target 63

    Browne 1, A Cook 0

    Nick Browne is stretching as far forward as possible to try and negate the spin of Jack Leach.

    He tickles the first run of the innings, bringing Alastair Cook onto strike.

    Somerset claim a leg-slip catch but the umpire shakes his head.

    We are now into the final hour of play.

    Jack LeachGetty Images

  6. Essex 0-0 - target 63

    Browne 0, A Cook 0

    Somerset choose the off-spin of Dom Bess from the other end. He took 1-34 in Essex's first innings.

    Even Alastair Cook might have a flutter of nerves in this situation.

    Cook drives the final delivery, but it rebounds off the back of silly mid-off and there is no run.

    I doubt Essex care that much about the target. They only need to draw.

  7. dropped catch

    Essex 0-0 - target 63

    Browne 0, A Cook 0

    In comes Jack Leach, Nick Browne flicks square and Murali Vijay at leg gully is unable to hang onto the chance. It's a maiden, completed in two minutes.

  8. Paul Newton
    BBC Essex sport

    "It's not entirely impossible. The next hour is going to be incredible."

  9. Thrilling finish at Taunton

    Somerset 203 v Essex 141 & 0-0

    Here we go again. Nick Browne and Alastair Cook are the Essex openers.

    Jack Leach has the ball.

  10. Anthony Gibson
    BBC Somerset

    "What a wonderful climax it's turned out to be."

  11. WATCH: Gloucestershire celebrate promotion

    County Championship: Watch Gloucestershire celebrate promotion to Division One

    Here's how Gloucestershire celebrated their promotion back to Division One of the County Championship earlier, as the club rejoin the top tier for the first time since 2005.

    Gloucestershire and Northants were both promoted after their game in Bristol and Glamorgan's match at Durham were both abandoned as draws.

  12. So, this is the deal.....

    Essex have to score 63 to win the match, or bat out the remaining time for a draw to become county champions for the eighth time.

    Somerset have to take 10 Essex wickets for 61 or fewer.

    Play MUST finish 17:30.

    And just when we thought this crazy season couldn't get any more exciting........

    Somerset celebrateGetty Images
  13. wicket

    WICKET Wheater c Davies b van der Merwe 141

    Somerset 203 v Essex 141

    Adam Wheater sweeps for four, but tries to cut the next delivery and edges to the keeper.

    The Somerset lead is 62 - what do they do now?

    Skipper Tom Abell is consulting Steven Davies and Roelof van der Merwe - and they have forfeited their second innings!!!!

  14. Somerset 203 v Essex 137-9

    Wheater 8, Porter 0

    Jamie Porter survives the hat-trick ball - just.

    Did that go through the fingers of the fielder? It may have.

  15. for Jack Leach

    Somerset 203, Essex 137-9

    Sam Cook takes strike. But he's deceived by a full-length delivery by Jack Leach and effectively yorks himself. He's gone for a first-ball duck and Leach is on a hat-trick.

  16. wicket

    WICKET Nijjar lbw Leach 2

    Somerset 203 v Essex 137-8

    Jack Leach floats it up, and the ball turns enough to beat Aron NIjjar's defensive stroke. That's a straightforward lbw decision. Just the two Essex pacemen to come and Leach's figures are now 4-32.

  17. Somerset 203 v Essex 133-7

    Wheater 8, Nijjar 2

    Adam Wheater glances a boundary to fine leg off the inside edge.

    The latest Roelof van der Merwe over ends in similar fashion as Wheater squeezes it away from the toe of the bat.

  18. Vic Marks
    Ex-England spinner on BBC 5 Live Sports Extra

    "A good bet now is an Essex win."

    *Based on the assumption that Somerset would forfeit their second innings.

  19. Somerset 203 v Essex 129-7

    Wheater 0, Nijjar 2

    Aron Nijjar is the new batsman. It's his first Championship game of the season. Nervous?

    But Adam Wheather is on strike and survives a loud lbw appeal from Jack Leach before running through for a leg-bye.

    Nijjar has to face the final delivery and pushes it away to mid-on for two.

  20. wicket

    WICKET Harmer c Abell b van der Merwe 0

    Somerset 203 v Essex 126-7

    Three wickets and a dropped catch in the last two overs.

    Simon Harmer knows plenty about spin bowling, but his batting skills aren't sufficient to deal with that one from Roelof van der Merwe and Murali Vijay accepts a comfortable slip catch.

    Well, well, well.