SOMERSET'S sold-out Vitality Blast fixture at home to Gloucestershire has fallen victim to the weather, with the umpires making the decision to abandon the match shortly before 5pm.

With rain falling throughout the day in Taunton, the outfield and surrounding area at the Cooper Associates County Ground were left waterlogged, and the forecast is for more heavy rain into the evening.

And so it was no surprise when umpires Jeremy Lloyds and Jeff Evans took the decision to abandon the match, which had been scheduled to start at 6.30pm.

Somerset were gunning for a fourth consecutive T20 victory, to strengthen their chances of making the knockout stages of the competition.

Both teams took a point, leaving Somerset one behind Gloucestershire in the South Group, with a game in hand.

Nonetheless, they don't have long to wait for their next fixture against their local rivals – as they are due to face them in Bristol on Friday, August 23 (6.30pm start).

Before that, Somerset go to Edgbaston for a Specsavers County Championship match with Warwickshire, which begins this Sunday (11am start).

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IT was also a day of frustration for Jack Leach and England at Lord's, as the third day of the second Ashes Test was also hit by the rain.

Leach, who made 6 not out in England's first innings of 258, had a watching brief as seam bowlers Jofra Archer, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes reduced Australia to 80-4.

Australian captain Steve Smith - who scored 144 and 142 in the first Test - remains unbeaten on 13 going into the fourth day of the Test.