Rain ruined the third day's play at Lord's

County Championship Division One: Day three- Somerset 173 all out Middlesex 364-3

Just 18 overs were possible as rain ruined Middlesex’s chances of forcing home their advantage against Somerset at Lord’s.

After play started on time, the rain began to fall at 12.20pm and with the bad weather refusing to relent, play was abandoned at 4.30pm.

Starting the day 321-2, the hosts struggled to get going, scoring just 20 runs from the first 10 overs as Craig Overton impressed.

The 18-year-old bowled with pace, bounce and accuracy, with his nine overs leaking just 16 runs.

The in form Joe Denly could add just 11 runs from his overnight total of 105, although Dawid Malan did manage to reach 50 from 68 balls, with two boundaries off Overton the highlight.

The number four could add just one more run to his total before he departed, pulling a Overton half-tracker down the throat of Alex Barrow.

New man Eoin Morgan was lucky not to edge after swinging at a wide from Peter Trego. It was the last action of note as the rain fell and with it possibly the host’s chances of recording their fourth Championship triumph of the season.