All water under Trent Bridge

There was disappointment at Trent Bridge as Nottinghamshire's efforts to catch up with Kent at the top of Division One by beating Middlesex were thwarted by the weather yesterday, as was the rest of the Championship programme.

Sixteen and a half points behind the leaders, the home side did themselves few favours by being dismissed for 181 in the first innings.

That not only left them with a mammoth fourth-innings target of 530, but also deprived them of up to five batting points. The likelihood of victory may not have been great but they had at least reached 107 without losing a wicket on Friday evening, effectively setting themselves a new, more manageable target of 423. However, they only succeeded in adding 21 runs yesterday in eight overs, losing Darren Bicknell for 62 in the process.

Durham's efforts to reinforce their lead at the top of Division Two against lowly Leicestershire were also frustrated by rain. Having managed just 22 overs on the first day at Chester-le-Street, yesterday saw them progress to 149 for 3 with their captain, the ignored Australian batsman Mike Hussey, remaining unbeaten on 70.

The forlorn efforts of the bottom club, Derbyshire, to stave off defeat against North-amptonshire on a turning pitch at Wantage Road lasted just two balls. They were all out for 205 to lose by 182 runs.

Only 6.5 overs were possible at Taunton as Yorkshire were hoping to find a way into the three promotion places. Having survived the shock of Matthew Wood plundering 297 off their attack, however, they were perhaps happy to settle for a draw on 179 for 4.