Teams back out in the middle - allow us to shout a brief mindless 'hurrah!', in the manner of Hugo Horton or a member of the Drones Club.

Duanne Olivier is at the end of his run.....

Tom Fell square cuts for a single to bring up a fifty partnership with Jake Libby and in Paul Walter's next over pierces to cover field for four as the left-armer sends down a wide half-volley.

Fell is 26 not out, Libby has 28 and Worcestershire are now 115 behind. Essex spinner Simon Harmer, meanwhile, goes metronomically about his business at the other end.

Jos Buttler hits 124 from 64 balls - his first Twenty20 hundred - as Rajasthan Royals beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.

It was looking more hopeful a few minutes ago when the large covers were removed at Headingley, leaving just the one covering the pitch. That too, has now been rolled away and we await news of a restart.

That's the three figures for Gloucestershire, they trail by 245 runs with 46 overs remaining.

All four results are still on. We could be on for a real tense finish this evening folks.

It is starting to look like the pitch will be the only winner at New Road.

Simon Harmer sends down a maiden to Tom Fell, who is 15 not out, with Worcestershire 133 away from avoiding an innings loss.

Wait you've stopped playing village cricket Paul?

I assumed you'd always be out there, like the Darren Stevens of the amateur circuit.

Back to the pros and Ian Cockbain times one perfectly down to third man as Gloucestershire move on to 97-3.

Covers on at Headingleypublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

14:57 BST 2 May 2021

Northants 206-9 (target 220) v Yorkshire

In case you didn't see the 2.40 entry, it is raining at Headingley.

Timing this bad hasn't been seen since a certain member of the BBC text commentary team stopped playing village cricket.

Northants are 14 runs short of their target. with number 11 Ben Sanderson to face Duanne Olivier when a resumption is possible.

Dropped catchpublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 2 May 2021

14:49 BST 2 May 2021

Gloucestershire 90-3 - target 348 v Leicestershire

That's a tough one.

Matthew Parkinson bowls a brilliant delivery which spins off the surface as Tom Lace takes a rash swipe. The ball catches his edge and sails up into the air at head height with Rishi Patel only able to get finger tips to it at first slip.

Pure reaction, can't really blame Patel for that drop.

Image source, Rex Features

Shane Snater is now in the attack for Essex and Jake Libby and Tom Fell both help themselves to fours from leg-stump deliveries.

Tom Westley continues to ring the changes by calling up Paul Walter, whose opening over yields only a couple of singles.

Worcestershire now 148 in arrears.

Gloucestershire's batsman have dealt with everything Leicestershire have had to throw at them since the restart.

Both Tom Lace (21) and Ian Cockbain (13) have looked secure not out in the middle, with the ball offering very little movement off the day-four surface.

The hosts trail by 265. Victory is still doable although they'll need to up the run rate.

Yorkshire captain Steve Patterson, of all people, sends down a wayward leg-side delivery, with keeper Jonny Tattersall up at the stumps, and that is a gift of four byes to Northants, as their total passes 200.

Still in the balance, but which way will it go? Some nasty looking clouds in the vicinity.....

Spinner Simon Harmer is now back into the attack for Essex and you feel that this, for Worcestershire, is the 'acid test'. Jake Libby is nine not out and Tom Fell has three, but they need another 161 to avoid an innings defeat.

Northants have shrugged off the post-lunch loss of Gareth Berg with new batsman Simon Kerrigan settling in after clipping David Willey away for four. He is 11 not out and Wayne Parnell has 22. The visitors need another 27, but don't write Yorkshire off just yet.

Steven Croft hammers a four and Lancashire have done it.

Remember, the visitors had trailed by 98 after being dismissed for 230 in their first innings.

But a stunning bowling performance and a brilliant Keaton Jennings 91 not out has given the Red Rose county their third win of the season.

Somerset's total passes 200 as Lewis Goldsworthy puts away a Luke Hollman full toss for four.

And it's the same story in the next over as the young Cornishman punishes the spinner's errant length to bring the game to an end.

Goldsworthy finishes on 41 not out, having shared an unbroken - and match-winning - stand of 86 with Steven Davies (44).

Somerset collect 21 points for their third win of the season - this one achieved despite trailing by 89 on first innings - with seven for Middlesex.

Image source, Getty Images

This innings will have done Lewis Goldsworthy's confidence a whole lot of good. He drives smoothly back past bowler Tim Murtagh for four runs and progresses to 32 not out. Somerset are almost there.

Seven needed for Lancashire. I think Keaton Jennings will finish just short of his century. He's on 88 not out.