Gloucestershire drew their LV County Championship match against Essex at Bristol after 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 was the man who anchored the home side using his uncomplicated style to score an unbeaten 70 having batted for three hours and 40 minutes whilst he received excellent support from David Brown and Richard Dawson, who scored 48 and 40 respectively, to hold up the visitors' victory push.

Essex had looked in total control following the capture of two quick wickets when play eventually resumed after fog had delayed the start until 12.55pm and caused the loss of 28 overs from the scheduled allocation.

The home side had resumed on 175-3, still requiring another 140 runs to make their opponents bat again.

But the problems soon increased for the Division Two bottom side when they lost specialist batsmen Kadeer Ali and Chris Taylor in the first 25 deliveries of the day.

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.

His celebrations were short-lived when, three balls later, he edged an intended drive at a ball from pace bowler Chris Wright and was caught behind by James Foster for 100.

In his next over, former Middlesex man Wright removed Taylor who had only added two runs to his overnight score when he attempted an expansive cover drive only to have his middle stump uprooted.

That left the hosts on 185-5 but a partnership of 85 between Brown and Snell, who completed a 90-ball half-century, defied Essex for another 22 overs until Ryan ten Doeschate found a delivery that trapped Brown in front of the wicket.

Snell though found another formidable ally in Dawson as the pair batted sensibly to post 70 runs to ensure their side avoided an innings defeat.

By the time ten Doeschate persuaded Dawson to pick out Tony Palladino at mid-on, Gloucestershire were 25 runs ahead with a minimum of 24 overs remaining.

Snell then opted for entrenchment as Jon Lewis contributed 26 out of 30 until driving to Jaik Mickleburgh at point off Ravi Bopara and when the final hour began, the home side were 55 runs ahead with two wickets intact.

However, despite regularly ringing the bowling changes, Essex were unable to gain a further breakthrough and the teams settled for a draw with nine overs remaining and the home side 70 runs ahead.