For the second successive day no play was possible at Chester-le-Street and to add to Somerset's frustrations they had a point deducted because of a slow over rate.

Having failed to gain any batting points against Durham for the second time this season - the leaders dismissed them for 69 at Taunton - Somerset emerged from the match with six points, compared with their hosts' nine.

That means Durham are 33 points ahead of third-placed Somerset, who have only two games left and no realistic chance of winning the LV County Championship Division One title.

With heavy rain falling in the morning there was never much prospect of play on the final day, but the umpires waited until 1.45 before they abandoned the game.