No slip in place and Liam Dawson's edge off Sam Cook runs away for four. A single ends the over, Dawson is 83 not out and Hampshire need 77 from the 13 remaining.

Some people are on the pitch at Lord's.... they are wearing white and warming-up.

It looks like the resumption might be imminent. No word yet on how many overs have been lost, or remain...

stand for Hampshirepublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

16:59 BST 22 September 2023

Hants 182-4 - target 267

Liam Dawson nudges Sam Cook to point and the Hampshire pair jog through for a single to bring up a 150 partnership.

There are 15 overs to go - they need 85 runs and Essex need six wickets.

Liam Dawson clearly thinks Hampshire can win this.

He crashes Matt Critchley over extra cover twice in three balls.

A single follows before the spinner beats James Vince with a good one that turns away.

Vince ends the over with one to keep the strike and move to 70 not out.

As the umpires head out to have a look at conditions at Lord's, here's the state of play.

As it stands Kent have 99 points, which is one more than Middlesex who slip into the relegation zone.

Now if Warwickshire are unable to rattle off 58 runs in any remaining overs this evening and the game is drawn that will mean Middlesex go into the final round of matches with a four point cushion over Kent. They visit Notts while Kent host Lancashire from next Tuesday.

If Middlesex lose today then Kent will have the slimmest of advantages going into the final week.

Even if basement-boys Northants picked up maximum points from their last game at home to Essex they could only finish on 98 points and would remain bottom.

Birmingham City Council is set to loan money for the rebuilding of two stands at the ground.

Liam Dawson tries to pull Paul Walter and top edge flies over the wicketkeeper for four runs.

Dawson is 65 not out and only four runs behind partner James Vince now.

A 'shoo-in' for Essex player of the season - commentator Nick Gledhill is talking about Matt Critchley.

And the leg-spinner is the one who is asking the most questions of the Hampshire batters at the moment.

Just one run off the bat in his latest over - 18 more to come.

This is a really fine partnership and Liam Dawson adds another four runs by pulling Paul Walter through mid-wicket. The left-armer just isn't quick enough for that sort of length.

BBC Essex's Nick Gledhill is expecting the rain that has hit Lord's to arrive in about half an hour. Let's hope it decides to give Chelmsford a miss.

The mopping up operation is underway at Lord's where the skies have lightened and the covers are coming off.

There are pools of water on the outfield but how quickly can they be soaked up?

We will find out soon.

There will be far fewer than 23 overs remaining for Warwickshire to chase 58, that's for certain.

Dawson dropped at slippublished at 16:39 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

16:39 BST 22 September 2023

Hants 155-4 - target 267

Oh, Sir Alastair!

Liam Dawson edges a fine ball from Matt Critchley and the former England skipper puts the chance down at first slip - and it runs away for four runs.

Was that a case of 'Cook, you've just dropped the title?' Essex fans very much hope not.

for Liam Dawsonpublished at 16:35 British Summer Time 22 September 2023

16:35 BST 22 September 2023

Hants 149-4 - target 267

Paul Walter tests out Liam Dawson with a short one and he is equal to it - pulling the ball away for four to reach 50 off 84 balls.

He has gone past 700 runs in this innings, and Hampshire need another 118 from 21 overs to win.

Tom Abell shakes hands with Jack Leaning with just under an hour remaining.

Clearly he didn't think another eight wickets were possible, perhaps the gathering clouds played into his decision.

That all happened very quickly but Kent fans can breathe again. At least for a few more days.

Kent's draw and six-point haul from the game means Northamptonshire will finish bottom of Division One.

Somerset have secured a record 15th straight season in Division One.

Tom Banton has been brought on to bowl some right-arm off-breaks, and he's immediately getting some turn.

A new fear has been unlocked for Kent fans.

Leading by 129 on first innings there was an outside chance that Derbyshire could force their first win of the season this afternoon.

But a combination of Tom Clark's unbeaten 36 and rain has seen Sussex survive at the Old Racecourse Ground.

Sussex were already out of the promotion race after their points deduction. They host Gloucestershire in the final round next week.

Derbyshire could still end up with the wooden spoon. Their last fixture is at Glamorgan.

Of course, one wicket will change the picture and revitalise Essex.

They call up Paul Walter but a confident lbw appeal by the left-armer against James Vince is turned down by the umpire.

Vince picks up a single before another loud shout from Walter against Liam Dawson, but it looked like it was missing leg stump.

Good over - and there are 23 to come.

Back-to-back boundaries from Daniel Bell-Drummond, the second an exquisite drive to the rope at long-on.

The deficit is 125, 28 overs remain and, well I'll be, there is weather over them there Quantock Hills - could Kent soon get a leg-up from Mother Nature as Middlesex are doing?

Following the bad weather earlier in the game. Hampshire are really threatening to rain on Essex's parade now.

A low full toss from Simon Harmer is punched down the ground for four by James Vince, who progresses to 63.

Such a fine player. What a shame his England career wasn't as successful as it ought to have been for someone of his talent.

Sam Cook comes in for another over and Liam Dawson square cuts his second delivery for four to move into the 40s and bring up a 100 partnership with James Vince.

He adds two more and for the moment, the sting seems to have gone out of the Essex attack.