Image source, Rex Features

They managed 45 minutes of play before the rain forced them off the field again.

Probably Essex's mini-session with the wicket of George Bartlett, but Somerset are still doing okay.

If they can get anywhere around 200, and they've got plenty of batting to come, then they have the bowlers to run through Essex.

Lots of ifs, buts and maybes though. First things first, we need the rain to clear off.

Rain stops playpublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 23 September 2020

15:20 BST 23 September 2020

Somerset 107-4 v Essex

Off they go again...

Jamie Porter is just about to complete his 13th over when the rain starts to get heavier and the players leave the field.

Frustrating.

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at Lord's

Image source, Rex Features

Remember that Fast Show sketch from years gone by with the man who always said a seat in the middle of nowhere was taken?

This picture reminded me of that as the workmen in the new Compton and Edrich Stands wrap up the new seats before they start work to put the roof on.

So close to another wicket for Essex.

Eddie Byrom, who's not looked comfortable since play got under way again, pushes at one outside off stump and the ball sneaks past his outside edge.

Another fine over from Sam Cook, conceding just a single.

Runs! Four of them!

Steven Davies edges Jamie Porter through the slip cordon to the rope. And then adds a single.

Make that two fours! It's a repeat performance from Eddie Byrom as he miscues one through the slips for another boundary.

Nine off the over and one furious fast bowler.

Somerset haven't scored a run since 1987.

That's six maidens in a row... and another for Sam Cook.

Essex have been magnificent with the ball since play restarted after the rain delay.

Adam Williams
BBC Sport at Lord's

Fantastic pressure that from Jamie Porter and Sam Cook leading up to George Bartlett's wicket.

Just what Essex would've wanted after they went off the boil a touch with their accuracy in the last 20 minutes or so before lunch.

But, how much longer will they get to build on this?

The floodlights are back on and the ground staff are poised by that hover cover once more.

Image source, Rex Features

And that's the end of Jamie Porter's 11th over... a hugely successful one with the wicket of George Bartlett.

Essex have bowled five maidens in succession.

Ravi Bopara
Former Essex and England all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

It's been an excellent spell of bowling form Essex, nothing loose, there has been a bit of movement especially with the cloud cover.

There's always been that dark cloud hanging around which does seem to make a difference at Lord's.

Steven Davies comes in at six for Somerset. Drizzle in the air, Essex bowlers not giving anything away. As tough as it gets for a new batsman.

You guessed it, another maiden. Four on the bounce.

Sam Cook found some lovely shape away from the left-handed Eddie Byrom but Byrom stuck in there.

He hasn't scored a run since play resumed after the rain delay.

That's three maidens in a row. Jamie Porter gets the ball to nip back in at George Bartlett on a couple of occasions, but the Somerset batsman sees off the danger.

He also flashes at one outside off stump, gets an under edge into the turf and into the hands of first slip.

Tough batting conditions at Lord's.

Another maiden as Sam Cook finds a probing line, going past Eddie Byrom's outside edge with the final ball of the over.

The heavy cloud cover is back - a real testing time for the batsmen.

Maiden over from Jamie Porter.

The partnership between Eddie Byrom and George Bartlett is worth 42 for Somerset - an excellent recovery from these two young batsmen.

Ravi Bopara
Former Essex and England all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Sam Cook has been the pick of bowlers for me, he's been excellent. He's probed away testing the forward defence and both edges of the bat.

He's held his length too, that's been the main thing.

Sam Cook smacks George Bartlett on the pad with his first ball after the rain break... huge shout for lbw... not out.

I think the Somerset batsman got outside the line of off stump.

Bartlett eventually manages to clip one away for a single in another tight over for Essex.

Jamie Porter is right on the money after the restart as George Bartlett squirts one off a leading edge down towards the third man rope.

The batsmen run three as Nick Browne chases and pulls it back just inside the boundary.

They're the only runs off the over.

Eddie Byrom and George Bartlett are back in the middle for Somerset... Byrom played some outstanding shots before lunch to race to 39.

Seamer Jamie Porter has the ball for Essex...

This is completely irrelevant, but the sun is now beaming brightly through the window of my home 'office' in Wolverhampton, straight onto the computer screen, and I can't really see what I'm writing.

Anyway, the cricket 150 miles away at Lord's is restarting in less than five minutes.