On a day when the rain again played havoc with the Frizzell County Championship programme, play at all but one of the First Division matches was washed out.

The one game that did continue was at Taunton, where Somerset managed to get within 54 runs of Surrey's massive first-innings 608. Michael Burns (99), Keith Parsons (47) and Rob Turner (56*) were today's main contributors, while James Ormond and Rikki Clarke each finished with three wickets. In their second innings Surrey closed on 96 without loss, a lead of 150.

There was no play at Southampton, Maidstone or Leicester.

In Division Two, leaders Essex are in trouble after collapsing to 60 for five against Glamorgan at Swansea, with Michael Kasprowicz taking three for 19. The hosts were bowled out for 311 to take a slender first-innings lead. Mike Powell went on to reach 90 this morning, and there were useful contributions down the order from Mark Wallace and Robert Croft. For the visitors Andrew Clarke ended with five for 54. But Kasprowicz's late burst left Essex just 32 runs in front with five wickets left.

At Lord's Middlesex closed on 229 for five, still 273 behind Worcestershire. Sven Koenig made 63, and Ed Joyce (43*) featured in an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 71 with Paul Weekes (28*), while Andy Bichel and Kabir Ali took two wickets each for the visitors.

There was no play at Derby or Northampton.

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