Durham prosper before rain

Ian Blackwell reached 139 not out on the second day as Warwickshire struggled to bowl Durham out

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Durham continued their steady recovery against Warwickshire in the LV= County Championship as Ian Blackwell led them to 403 for seven before rain brought a premature end to play at Edgbaston.

Having been rattled by the bowling of Chris Woakes yesterday, champions Durham added 81 to their overnight total as Blackwell reached 139 not out.

Mark Stoneman was the only wicket to fall on the second day – another Woakes victim – for a patient 64.

Steven Davies led the way for bottom side Worcestershire, who made 415 against Yorkshire at New Road.

Davies top-scored with 112, while Moeen Ali, Daryl Mitchell and Stephen Moore chipped in with half-centuries.

In reply, Yorkshire had reached 55 for one when bad light stopped play, Jacques Rudolph the wicket to fall, leaving Joe Sayers and Michael Vaughan unbeaten on 25 and 21 respectively overnight.

Sussex bowled Somerset out for 367 at Hove but then failed miserably with the bat.

Peter Trego's unbeaten 92 - 42 of which came this morning - helped Somerset add 53 for their last wicket, and Sussex suffered a terrible start when they lost Chris Nash, Michael Yardy and Murray Goodwin before they had reached double figures.

They stabilised thanks to Matt Prior's 59 and 45 from Ed Joyce, but the last three wickets fell for just one run as Sussex were dismissed for 197.

The home side restored some hope when they dismissed in-form Marcus Trescothick for 11 in the final session as Somerset closed on 52 for one in their second innings, leading by 222.

Lancashire's Glen Chapple and Andrew Flintoff wait in vain for play to begin against Hampshire at Liverpool

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The first day of the clash between Lancashire and Hampshire at Liverpool was washed out by rain.

In Division Two, Kent were bundled out for 123 by Essex at Tunbridge Wells, having started the day on four for two.

David Masters took 4-34 and Graham Napier 4-32 as Essex, who made 280 on the first day, took charge.

They lost openers Alastair Cook and Jason Gallian for 30 and 14 respectively in their second innings, but Varun Chopra looked in fine touch as the visitors closed day two on 109 for three and boasting a lead of 266.

Surrey continued to dominate Leicestershire after bowling them all out for 165 at Grace Road yesterday.

Michael Brown and Mark Ramprakash led the way before the latter was caught off Harry Gurney for 85 shortly before stumps, leaving Brown unbeaten on 82 and Surrey 217 for two.

Northamptonshire trail Glamorgan by 280 runs with seven wickets remaining at the SWALEC Stadium after a rain-affected second day.

The visitors lost David Murphy, Stephen Petersen and Rob White cheaply as they slipped to 28 for three in reply to Glamorgan's 308 before the weather intervened.