Resuming on 179-5, with home skipper Alex Davies having completed his 11th first-class century the evening before, he was the first wicket of the day to fall for 131, to an ugly shot off Jack Leach.

On the fifth anniversary of Leach’s famous innings – “arguably the greatest one not out in the history of the game” – at Headingley in August 2019, it turned out to be the first of five morning wickets for the currently mothballed England spinner.

Overlooked by England in favour of Somerset team-mate Shoaib Bashir since the opening Test against India in Hyderabad in January, he took five wickets for 18 runs in 49 balls – for his 27th first-class five-wicket haul.

Having made 410-5 – their second-highest ever run chase – to beat the Bears at Taunton six weeks ago, a target of 369 did not daunt Somerset.

But yet another rain interruption proved costly – and no serious attempt was made to chase the runs, although their two openers, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and former Bear Andy Umeed were both caught at deep mid-wicket.

Tom Lammonby and Tom Banton both mistimed pulls off Michael Rae before James Rew plundered a 23-ball half-century before the light failed and the game was called off as a draw.

The Bears now face seemingly doomed bottom club Kent on Thursday when another home draw would really cause a bit of consternation to the dwindling band of Edgbaston members.

Somerset’s next game starts the same day at home to Durham, while their title hopes chiefly rest on both them and third-placed Essex still having to play Surrey at home.