Image source, Rex Features

The umpires decide that no play will be possible at Canterbury because of persistent rain, so this one is over.

Joey Evison (38) and Conor McKerr (4) were the not out Kent batters, with Simon Harmer claiming 4-141 for the visitors.

Kent will start a new game against Middlesex at Lord's on Thursday, with Essex next action on 4 May when they take on Surrey at Chelmsford.

Division One

Kent 342-7 v Essex 451-5 dec

Match drawn

Middlesex 274 v Nottinghamshire 364 & 158-6 - no play before lunch

Somerset 441 & 121-4 v Lancashire 554

Division Two

Glamorgan 257-8 v Durham 471-9 dec

Sussex 361 & 137 v Yorkshire 298 & 138-3 - no play before lunch

Worcestershire 157 & 51-4 v Gloucestershire 231 & 226-4 dec

Worcestershire avoid further damage in the final over before lunch at New Road.

Matthew Waite is five not out and Ben Cox has two, but they have a lot of batting to do this afternoon - especially if Brett D'Oliveira is unable to resume his innings.

Gloucestershire added an extra 54 at the start of play, with Chris Dent making 83, and will be optimistic about forcing a first win of the season following a draw and a no-result.

Not surprising given the conditions earlier today.

Our scheduled start is now 1:25pm.

Weather permitting.

for Kiran Carlsonpublished at 13:02 British Summer Time 23 April 2023

13:02 BST 23 April 2023

Glamorgan 257-8 v Durham 471-9 dec

Well played Kiran Carlson, who reaches his ninth first-class century from 141 balls with four off Scott Borthwick.

That will be lunch and Glamorgan have gone a long way towards securing a draw by adding 104 to their total during the morning for the loss of three wickets.

Timm van der Gugten has 30 and these two have so far added 76 for the ninth wicket - but they still trail by 214, so the follow-on remains a possibility.

Ajeet Singh Dale completes his over and Gloucestershire's fielders run to the other end to ensure there will be one more before lunch.

Tom Price will bowl it, with figures of 2-19 so far. Matthew Waite is struck by the first ball and takes a 'time out' while consulting with his partner.

Marchant de Lange has given Worcestershire a torrid time this morning. Get in touch and tell us about the most hostile spell of bowling you have seen. And we're talking 90+mph - not this 85mph 'medium-pace stuff. (smiley face emoji)

Spin from both ends at Sophia Gardens as Scott Borthwick comes on to join Liam Trevaskis. A single to Kiran Carlson from his first delivery takes the Glamorgan batter to 92 not out.

Rain stops play at Tauntonpublished at 12:51 British Summer Time 23 April 2023

12:51 BST 23 April 2023

Somerset 441 & 121-4 v Lancashire 554

The players are dashing off as the rain starts to fall in cider country.

That will probably bring an early lunch, given we are only ten minutes from the scheduled interval.

Lancashire did well to take those four wickets, but captain Tom Abell and James Rew have steadied the ship again and their partnership of 30 has put Somerset in the lead - albeit only by eight runs.

Relief for Worcestershire as Marchant de Lange takes a breather after a spell of 1-20 from five rapid overs.

Ajeet Singh Dale comes on for his first bowl of the final day following his career-best six-for in the first innings.

James Rew could, and should, be in back in the hutch as far as Lancashire are concerned.

Bu he now puts Somerset into the lead with two fours off Saqib Mahmood's latest over.

His first is through the midwicket, the second a gorgeous punch off the back foot through the offside.

Barrel-chested and bristling with aggression, Marchant de Lange charges in and bangs in a rapid bouncer which clears Matthew Waite and the keeper and goes away for four byes.

It's like watching Jeff Thomson on a quick one at Perth in the mid 70s at the moment.

Dropped catchpublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 23 April 2023

12:40 BST 23 April 2023

Somerset 441 & 108-4 v Lancashire 554

Colin de Grandhomme took an excellent catch to remove Tom Kohler-Cadmore, but he's now missed an easier one off James Rew.

Proper edge from left-hander Rew off Mahmood and it flies to the New Zealander's right, but he shells it and the rebound doesn't quite carry to Luke Wells at first slip.

A big let-off for Somerset.

That is a lovely cover drive from James Rew off Saqib Mahmood.

He doesn't try to hit it too hard, but use Mahmood's pace and his timing to send it to the fence.

Somerset appear to have a real talent on their hands in the 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter.

Kiran Carlson sweep spinner Liam Trevaskis fine for four. Only one more needed for a 50 partnership with Timm van der Gugten. The deficit is now 241 but Glamorgan are eating up time, which is almost as important as runs.

Tom Hartley is thrown the ball for the first time in the innings.

It's a tidy over with just a single conceded to James Rew. Somerset are now within single figures of parity - nine runs.

D'Oliveira retires hurtpublished at 12:32 British Summer Time 23 April 2023

12:32 BST 23 April 2023

Worcs 30-3 (target 301)

Brett D'Oliveira is the new batter in Marchant de Lange's sights and the Worcestershire physio has to be summoned after he is struck on the arm. He can't continue - for now - and Matthew Waite comes out to join Jake Libby.

The start of a partnership between Tom Abell and James Rew. In the first innings, they shared a stand of 244 with both men making hundreds.

Abell gets this stand up and running with two fours in an over from Saqib Mahmood, both times being lethal on balls that are back of a length.

The captain moves to 28 not out.

It may be the least of their concerns at the moment but Glamorgan pass 200 as Timm van der Gugten finds the mid-wicket boundary at the start of Paul Coughlin's over.