Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire were frustrated by the weather on the third day of the Specsavers County Championship Second Division match at Bristol.
Heavy overnight rain left the outfield sodden and put paid to any prospect of play during the morning. Conditions improved somewhat in the afternoon and umpires Mike Burns and Paul Pollard staged three inspections between the scheduled lunch and tea intervals.
Although the ground-staff removed the covers and carried out a thorough mopping up operation, the umpires, concerned by a wet patch on the square, opted to abandon play for the day at 3.40pm.
Play is scheduled to resume at 10:30am on Friday morning, with Northamptonshire looking to capitalise on a 48-run lead from the first innings.