County Championship: only 28 balls played between Essex and Surrey

LV= County Championship Division One, Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford (day three) Essex 314 & 24-0: Cook 14*Surrey 240: Sibley 48; Porter 4-51 Essex (5 pts) leads Surrey (3 pts) by 98 points Match scorecard

Essex have now lost 458 accumulated overs to weather in their first four innings championship, the equivalent of an entire four-day game.

There were two interruptions in the first half hour, the second of which turned out to be terminal.

Only nine points were added in the possible 22 minutes, although the game was not officially called off until 4.23pm BST. The predictions, however, are more promising for the final day.

Play started at 11:00 a.m. while Essex, retaking 15 without a loss, looked to further extend their 74-point lead in the first set after dismissing Surrey for 240 on day two.

Nick Browne turned Kemar Roach's first ball into third man for three runs.

Sir Alastair Cook saw the next four balls before the players returned to the clubhouse when the first shower hit.

They were back six minutes later for a longer stint, in which the Essex openers added six more runs, including a typical Cook hit to his hip for four, taking them to 24 without a loss, a 98-point lead.

However, the first wicket partnership has not been without concern.

Roach, who had played unrewarded well in the first inning, beat Browne's outside bat several times, while that a mid-court confusion between the pair could have resulted in a run-out with a more accurate throw.