Surrey have got the 96 runs they needed to ensure Essex will need to bat again if they are to win this match.

The bad news for Surrey is that they've lost six wickets in getting there.

Essex are definitely the favourites though and with Leicestershire having drawn against Yorkshire, there's a fair chance that Surrey will be in the Division One relegation places by the end of today.

Oh no. That poor man. (see 12:24 BST entry).

There will be no play possible after all. The umpires have deemed the wet outfield unplayable on the final day.

271 overs lost to the elements at North Marine Road this week.

Such a shame.

Yorkshire take 9 points from the draw with 11 for Leicestershire.

Some heavy showers in this afternoon's forecast for this part of the West Midlands and the Bears are still a long way from a batting point.

Notts, on the other hand, are one wicket away from a third bonus point of the match. What should the Warwickshire approach be with the bat?

Sam Hain edges Fraser Sheat fine down the legside for his second boundary to go to eight.

After a gutsy 30-run stand for the final wicket Toby Roland-Jones has picked up the wicket of Nick Potts, caught by Tom Helm for 11, as Derbyshire are bowled out for 131.

Word is that Middlesex are going to forfeit their first innings in the hope of teeing-up a result.

Just a reminder, there will be no play before lunch, which will be taken early at 12:30 BST.

The mopping up operation has gone well, however, and someone is clearly champing at the bit to get going at North Marine Road...

Image source, Shutterstock

Rain stops play at Hovepublished at 12:24 BST

12:24 BST

Sussex 250 v Somerset 202 & 225-3

The sky above the ground is slate grey, the floodlights are on and there's a bit of rain in the air - so the umpires have removed the bails and we're off for now.

The groundstaff are moving into action, with Somerset leading by 177 and three second-innings wickets down.

Tom Abell's been hunkering down during this innings so far, but the return of Henry Crocombe and a couple of loose balls on leg stump prompts him to dispatch both of them to the boundary.

Those two deliveries treble Abell's score to 12 and extend Somerset's advantage to 171. Nowhere near a position of safety just yet, though, you'd imagine.

Surrey's deficit is down to just eight runs now.

Of course they need runs along the way, but the most important thing is to bat time if they're going to escape from Chelmsford with a draw.

Last-wicket pair Will Rogers and Nick Potts are holding up the Middlesex onslaught at Derby.

Derbyshire are 126-9 after that flurry of wickets this morning.

Rehaan Edavalath and Jake Libby are going steadily for Worcestershire at home to Lancashire, with the hosts 64-1 in reply to the Red Rose's 180.

Early bowling change for Nottinghamshire as debutant Fraser Sheat replaces Dillion Pennington after his decent three-over spell.

He immediately finds the outside edge of fellow Kiwi Will Young which squirts past the slips for a streaky boundary.

More oohs and aahs from the slip cordon as Young almost plays on and is then beaten outside off stump. Testing first over from Sheat who contributed an unbeaten 41 with the bat.

It's all feeling rather attritional for now, with Sussex pressing for further wickets and Somerset just trying to eke out their lead while chewing up overs.

Tom Abell's batted more than half an hour now for two singles, while Henry Nicholls' overnight 12 has advanced by just 15 so far.

The lead is 160 and Sussex are sticking with their seamers - no sign of Jack Carson or James Coles warming up just yet.

Jamie Porter is into the Essex attack in place of Sam Cook and, as is the fashion these days to the slightly slower seamers, wicketkeeper Michael Pepper is standing up to the stumps.

Mahipal Lomror is five not out and Ben Foakes, who has survived a couple of chances already during the morning session - including the below dropped catch by Simon Harmer - is on 18.

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Almost a second wicket in the over for Olly Stone as a Dan Mousley outside edge bounces just in front of Jack Haynes at third slip.

The former England quick looks in red-hot late-season form following his 10-wicket match haul at The Oval last week.

That was a 27th Championship wicket of the campaign.