Cricket: Stop-start for Somerset

Cricket

The wretched weather continues. Somerset, who were put in to bat, began their innings at 11 o'clock and, after four interruptions for rain, which added up to almost five hours, were still six wickets and 12 overs from ending it at 6.40 when the weather brought the players in for the last time.

The first hold-up came after eight minutes, by which time Mark Lathwell had been caught at second slip off James Hewitt.

Simon Ecclestone soon followed, yorked by Hewitt. But there was then a good stand of 108 in 140 balls between Michael Burns and Peter Bowler, both of whom cut and drove in fine style.

Burns' 50 came in 72 minutes with five fours and one six - a cover drive into the new Mound Stand - off Angus Fraser. He then tried to pull a ball from Fraser which was too far up and he was caught at mid-on. Fraser bowled an excellent spell with his usual immaculate control, taking 1 for 23 in his 10 overs.

Bowler's 50 arrived after yet another stoppage in 75 balls with seven fours. Soon after that, Graham Rose was caught at first slip trying to run Jacques Kallis to third man and, after Richard Harden had pulled Kallis for six, bad light and rain put everyone out of their misery.