Somerset were thwarted in their attempts to remove the remaining three Leicestershire wickets and enforce the follow on by the rain at Taunton today.

Heavy rain just before 11 am prevented play commencing on time, and the covers remained in place until mid-afternoon.

Later on in the day after a couple of false starts, including one situation where the Somerset fielders were in position and the batsmen half way towards the wicket when the light deteriorated and the start delayed yet again, play eventually got underway at 5.10pm, with 20.2 overs to be bowled.

In the event only ten overs were possible before the players left the field once again for bad light just before 6pm, but during that time Mike Burns had captured the vital wicket of Darren Stevens for 73 after he was given out LBW by umpire Nigel Cowley.

New batsman Devon Malcolm struck his first ball back over mid off for a four, after which the players left the field for bad light and play was over for the day.

Somerset will doubtless feel frustrated by the events of the day and will be looking to make an early breakthrough in the morning, enforce the follow on and have a second bowl at the Leicestershire batsmen.

During the break for rain Somerset coach Kevin Shine confirmed that Steffan Jones will be missing from the Sabres team to face Worcester Royals on Sunday.

The coach told me: "Steffan is still not quite ready to play, so rather than risk him we think that we will delay his return until the championship match against Surrey at the Oval next Friday which gives him another week to recover to full fitness."

Regarding Richard Johnson's recovery the coach told me: "Johnno is making good progress and we are targeting his comeback for the NUL match against Warwickshire on June 9th at Edgbaston , and then he will play in the championship match at Bath against Hampshire."

For the NUL game against Worcestershire on Sunday Somerset have named the same team that are playing in the current championship match and added all rounder Pete Trego to the squad.

© SOMERSET