Warwickshire's run chase against Gloucestershire at Bristol came to a soggy end when heavy rain wiped out play after 4.45pm.

The visitors, set 239 to win in a minimum of 42 overs, were 113-2 in the 22nd over when they came off and in a reasonable position to claim their fourth CricInfo Championship Division Two success of the season.

Discarded England opener Nick Knight was well set on 47 not out, while David Hemp was unbeaten on five.

Michael Powell fell for 16 when he was well caught by Jeremy Snape, running back from cover, off strike bowler Ben Gannon.

Mark Wagh, playing with the confidence which brought him 89 in the first innings, had scored a brisk 37 when he was caught at midwicket by Mark Alleyne from the bowling of spinner Martyn Ball.

Earlier, Jack Russell and Jeremy Snape had been largely responsible for extending Gloucestershire's second innings to 297 and into early afternoon.

The pair shared a sixth wicket stand of 136 before Snape was caught and bowled by Neil Smith for 89.

Russell, in a typically obdurate innings, occupied the crease for 275 minutes and 240 balls for his 91 not out.

Smith finished as Warwickshire's most successful bowler with 3-57 from 24 overs.

Gloucestershire, meanwhile, have confirmed that their England A pace bowler Jon Lewis, out of action for the past month, will miss Saturday's Benson & Hedges Cup final with Surrey at Lord's amid fears that he has a stress fracture of the back.

The county learned on Friday that vice-captain and opening batsman Tim Hancock would be sidelined for the final after he broke a bone in his right hand during fielding practice.

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