Gloucestershire drew their Championship match against Essex at Bristol.

A combination of bad weather and defiant middle-order batting prevented their opponents from completing a sixth win of the season in Division Two.

Steve Snell's uncomplicated style took him to an unbeaten 70 from three hours and 40 minutes batting with David Brown and Richard Dawson also batting well.

Resuming Saturday on 175-3, the hosts were 385-8 at the close, 70 runs ahead, as Essex's bowlers were kept at bay.

Essex had looked in total control following the capture of two quick wickets when play eventually resumed after fog had delayed the start until 1255 BST and caused the loss of 28 overs from the scheduled allocation.

Opening batsman Kadeer had resumed on 92 not out and only needed eight further deliveries to reach a 183-ball century that included 12 boundaries.

But Chris Wright immediately had him caught behind by James Foster and in his next over plucked out Chris Taylor's middle stump.

A partnership of 85 between Brown and Snell, who completed a 90-ball half-century, defied Essex for another 22 overs, however.

And further dogged partnerships continued to frustrate the visitors who perhaps lacked the one really classy bowler they needed to make the difference.

Not that Gloucestershire had much to shout about, finishing at the foot of the table with no wins at all.

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