TO the surprise of absolutely no-one, Somerset and Surrey have had to settle for a draw in their LV= Insurance County Championship fixture in Taunton.

The match was abandoned shortly after 11.15am on Sunday morning, after persistent rain made any chance of a contest over the four days impossible.

No play was possible at all at the Cooper Associates County Ground on Thursday, with overnight storms having left parts of the outfield under water and more rain falling during the morning.

The match finally got under way at 2pm on Friday, after a major mopping-up operation by the Somerset groundstaff, and the hosts elected to bowl on a green-looking pitch.

But, in the absence of the rested Craig Overton, Somerset did not have much joy - despite their bowlers beating the bat with regularity.

A half-century from Rory Burns laid the foundation for Surrey's total of 191-4 by the end of the second day, with his 55 being added to by Ollie Pope (33) and Hashim Amla (29).

Somerset's Lewis Gregory claimed his 300th First-Class wicket in taking 2-60 from 18 overs, with the other wickets being taken by Marchant de Lange and Tom Abell.

With Steve Davies facing a minor operation, Tom Banton took over the role of wicketkeeper for the hosts.

Only nine overs were bowled on the third day of the match, with Surrey making it to 206-4 (with Ben Foakes on 16* and Jamie Smith 27*) before the rain started falling again.

Come Sunday, more overnight rain and some fresh showers that morning left umpires Nick Cook and Russell Warren with little choice but to abandon the match.

Both teams collect one bonus point to go with the eight points for a draw.

It's a good outcome for Group 2 leaders Gloucestershire, now clear by four points with a game in hand on second-placed Somerset, who visit the Bristol County Ground for their next group match, starting on Thursday (May 20).

Hampshire have closed to within nine points of Somerset as a result of their victory over Middlesex.

Somerset County Gazette: