SOMERSET'S Specsavers County Championship match at Kent lost another full day to persistent rain in Canterbury, where the scheduled third day was ruled out by further heavy showers.

After Monday's opening day washout, some 22 wickets fell on an action-packed Tuesday that saw Somerset take a slight overall advantage in the game, as Kent stumbled to 24-2 in their second innings and an overall match deficit of six runs.

But heavy grey clouds returned to curtain the Spitfire Ground throughout the third morning, depositing constant showers that forced the players to take an early lunch.

With no let-up in the deluge, umpires Martin Saggers and Billy Taylor finally abandoned play for the day at 2.15pm.

The forecast for tomorrow – day four of the match – is slightly more promising, with rain in the morning followed by a drier afternoon.

Whether that will allow Somerset sufficient time to force a result, only time will tell.

Somerset remain top of the Division 1 standings, after Hampshire drew with Nottinghamshire, while third-placed Yorkshire look set to draw their match at Surrey – they are 58-1 in pursuit of the hosts' 313 all out, going into the final day tomorrow.