Somerset's Nick Compton held firm for four and a half hours to frustrate his former employers Middlesex and deny them top spot in Division One of the LV= County Championship.
Compton made 69 as Somerset hung on to avoid what would have been an innings defeat, shaking hands on a draw a little after 6pm on the final day of a match that, like every other in the country this week, had been greatly affected by the weather.
With rain delaying the start by 75 minutes, Middlesex turned down the chance of securing maximum batting points in favour of having another crack at Somerset with the ball, but could only take seven wickets before the visitors took a narrow lead.
Middlesex took 10 points from the match to Somerset's four.
Leaders Warwickshire saw their match with Durham abandoned as a draw without a ball bowled on the final day at Chester-le-Street.
The rain rescued Warwickshire, with Durham in position to push for what would have been their first win of the season.
Kyle Hogg and Simon Kerrigan had season-best scores to help Lancashire move within sight of a fourth bonus point after playing finally got under way against Nottinghamshire in the afternoon.
The last-wicket pair put together an unbeaten stand of 70 - the highest of the match so far - as Lancashire reached 321 for nine at the close before bad light brought about an early finish.
The day belonged to the Sussex low order at Horsham, as the visitors staged a dramatic fightback to give themselves a shot at victory over Surrey if the weather holds on the final day.
Having resumed on 90 for six, 34 runs behind, Sussex saw Luke Wells turn his overnight 38 into an oustanding 127, while James Anyon added an unbeaten 64 and Naved Arif and Steve Magoffin made 34 apiece.
That helped them to 351 all out, and Surrey closed the day on 39 for one, still 188 runs behind.
Division Two was all but wiped out for the day with only Kent and Hampshire able to take the field.
Still, they only managed 45 overs at Tunbridge Wells, with Hampshire taking their first innings score of 90 for three to 229 for six at the close of day three, highlighted by an unbeaten 111 from Liam Dawson.
However, it is difficult to see any outcome but a draw going into the final day.
Leicestershire and Derbyshire declared their match - still in the first innings on the final day - a draw, while Glamorgan and Yorkshire abandoned play for a second day running without a ball bowled.
The match between Northamptonshire and Essex was also declared a washout with a draw surely the only outcome as Essex sit on 195 for four in their first innings - and Northamptonshire yet to bat - going into the final day.
