NICK Browne and Adam Wheater batted Essex into a strong position during the 13 overs’ play possible on a rain-hit third day at Chelmsford.

The fourth-wicket pair extended Essex’s lead over Somerset from 112 to 152 before Browne’s 198-ball vigil ended just before play was brought to a premature halt soon after noon.

Meanwhile, Wheater will resume at the crease this morning on 58, and he is hoping the match will swing in Essex’s favour.

Wheater, who is within seven runs of overtaking his highest Championship score this season, said: “It was good to have the partnership with Browney.

“I’ve not batted with him a great deal, but he gets stuck in every time he bats, which is great for us.

“He played very well when some balls were kicking about. I’ve known him a long time and it was nice to bat with him there.

“It’s pretty evenly balanced at the moment.

“I don’t know what this morning is going to bring, but I’m sure we’re going to bat for a little while and see where we go from there.”

Tim Groenewald arrowed a ball past Browne’s forward-defensive prod to dismiss the left-hander for 83.

Browne is 19 runs short of reaching 1,000 first-class runs for the third successive season.

He had hit 12 fours and a six during his time at the crease.

Browne had been joined by Wheater the previous afternoon with Essex on a precarious 39/3.

Together, the pair put on 118 in 45 overs to take Essex into a potentially winning position as they seek their fifth County Championship victory in a row.

Wheater was unbeaten on 58 from 135 balls and playing beautifully when the rain set in for the day.

Play was finally abandoned at 4pm.

It has been a dispiriting summer for the batsman-wicketkeeper, who returned from a spell at Hampshire a year ago.

Six of his previous eight Championship innings had finished in single-figures, but he reached his second half-century from 118 balls with his seventh four.

Wheater eased Craig Overton through the covers for his first boundary of the day, and then went on to the back foot to pick up a second square on the off-side.

Another well-timed cover-drive off Paul van Meekeren brought up his 50.

It also took the fourth-wicket stand to 100.

When it ended, five overs later, it was the biggest partnership of the match by some 40 runs.