Richard Vaughan: Re Will Houston’s question on Harmer qualifying for England. Harmer said earlier this summer that the ECB have told him they won’t be opening the door for him, so that option appears to have jumped out the window.

Rain arrives at Lord'spublished at 12:45 British Summer Time 23 September 2020

12:45 BST 23 September 2020

Somerset 90-3 v Essex - lunch, day one

Ot oh...

Image source, Getty Images

Enjoy that first session of the final?

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Image source, Rex Features

So, first session of this final done and dusted.

If you've just joined us, Essex won the toss and elected to bowl first.

That decision was vindicated within nine balls as Sam Cook had Tom Lammonby leg before for a duck.

Tom Abell was then brilliantly caught down the legside by Adam Wheater for 19 off Aaron Beard before Cook returned to get a second, bowling Ben Green for 24.

But Eddie Byrom has shown us his array of strokes there just before the interval to haul Somerset back into this.

And another Eddie Byrom boundary.

Punched nicely off the back foot through straight mid-wicket off Simon Harmer.

Somerset and Byrom in particular, finishing the session with a flourish.

Probably honours even you'd say.

This will be the last over before lunch now from Simon Harmer...

First real short ball of the morning session gets sent down by Aaron Beard that Eddie Byrom ducks under.

He then drives very handsomely to the mid-off rope the very next ball for four before backing that up with a great shot through the legside for another boundary.

He's not done there - Beard goes too full outside off this time and it's hammered away to the cover rope.

Ticking along brilliantly now is the left-hander and Somerset take 13 off the penultimate over before lunch.

Image source, Getty Images

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Radio 5 live Sports Extra

It's a stern tussle out there, Essex will be the happier of the two teams, they've got the three wickets and made important inroads. They've managed to get Abell out who was suddenly the key man in the upper order for Somerset and they are allowing no liberties with Harmer coming on.

Somerset are trying to claw their way to a total, the batsmen have not played with any freedom so far. They have had to work hard for the runs that they have got.

It's not dominating stuff and it's getting darker.

Closing in on the lunch break as the light gets ever gloomier.

George Bartlett starting to find some timing now as well as he drives Simon Harmer nicely for a couple down towards long-off.

Shot of the morning session from Eddie Byrom as he lofts Aaron Beard away to the mid-wicket fence.

Great timing and execution. The Somerset batsman then pushes an off drive wide of mid-off later in the over for two more.

Meanwhile in a slightly ominous sight - head groundsman Karl McDermott and his team have suddenly got off their seats below me and are heading towards the covers.

Do they know something we don't?!

Image source, Rex Features

Another Simon Harmer over ticks by as he gets into his groove.

Maiden over as Eddie Byrom and George Bartlett show some patience.

Time for Aaron Beard to return from the Pavilion End this time.

George Bartlett off the mark with a four through the vacant third man region off Sam Cook.

It's in control and well placed too as he then picks up a single with an almost identical stroke.

Eddie Byrom also keeps himself ticking over as he nicely rides the bounce and drives backward of point for four more to his name to finish that over.

Image source, BBC Sport

On come the floodlights now at Lord's as the clouds get a bit thicker and greyer.

Essex have half a leg before shout against Eddie Byrom as one strikes him high on the pads as he plays no shot. Far too high.

Maiden from Simon Harmer.

Just taken a quick look at the latest weather forecast for this afternoon.

Not looking too promising it has to be said from 14:00 BST onwards. A fair few black cloud and rain icons on show!

Sam Cook meanwhile completes his 10th over and once more beats the outside edge on a couple of occasions.

George Bartlett yet to get off the mark from eight balls faced.

Will Houston: With England struggling for quality spin bowler, when/can Simon Harmer declare for England ?

Eddie Byrom drives Simon Harmer down the ground for a single to put George Bartlett on strike for the first time against the spinner.

Just the one off the over.

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

Now Essex will be the happier side because of that third wicket, that is what you aim for when you walk out, three wickets in the session.

George Bartlett is the new batsman for Somerset and straight away with no hestitation, he is shuffling out of his crease and down the wicket to Sam Cook!

He gets wrapped on the glove from a ball that nips back to him. Testing times for Somerset as they look to build another new partnership.

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

Both teams will be happy, with Somerset losing the toss and being stuck into bat in these conditions they'll be happy that they have only lost two wickets.

Essex will be happy easing their way into the game with Simon Harmer coming in, his record against left handers is unbelievable.