GLOUCESTERSHIRE'S LV County Championship Division Two match against Middlesex at Lord's looks destined for a draw after only 11 overs were possible on the third day.

When the players finally got on to the pitch at 5pm Middlesex declared on their overnight total of 313 for seven, a lead of 95.

But they were unable to make inroads into the Gloucestershire batting as the visitors closed on 30-0 with William Porterfield (20 not out) and Kadeer Ali (10 not) both unbeaten.

Middlesex's opening bowlers Tim Murtagh and Alan Richardson did not make the batsman play often enough so the five slips Richardson had at one point were mostly redundant.

With the light fading, Shaun Udal brought on spinner Kartik but the rain returned and forced the players off, with the umpires abandoning play soon afterwards.

The match though has little bearing on the outcome of the division with Gloucestershire anchored to the bottom of the table with Middlesex's hopes of promotion ended in mid-season.

Middlesex have announced that Tyron Henderson and Andrew Strauss have signed extensions to their contracts.

England opener Strauss signed an extension that keeps him at Middlesex until the end of the 2010 season.