Silverwood knocks over Somerset top-order

Only eight overs were possible on the opening day at Croydon. Kent inserted Surrey, hoping to take advantage of the helpful bowling conditions and Andrew Hall soon removed Scott Newman for 9. Hall should have had Mark Ramprakash caught at short leg, too, but Joe Denly spilled the chance before the rain came down.

Play at Hove between Sussex and Lancashire was abandoned without a ball bowled.

No play was possible at Edgbaston between Warwickshire and Hampshire.

Only three balls were possible in the first two sessions at Lord's but, when play finally resumed, Middlesex's bowlers snatched four quick wickets to leave Somerset reeling on 36 for 4. Chris Silverwood removed Neil Edwards and Justin Langer for ducks, and Marcus Trescothick followed them back to the pavilion when he was bowled by Tim Murtagh for 12. With Cameron White also falling cheaply, Somerset's bristling top order was cut apart, leaving Ian Blackwell - unbeaten on 10 at stumps - with a heavy burden to shoulder tomorrow.

Gareth Rees and Mike Powell both struck half-centuries for Glamorgan on their rain-interrupted opening day against Essex at Swansea. Rees, whose unbeaten 54 was only his second first-class fifty, lost his opening partner Nicky Peng to Tony Pallandino, and Jimmy Maher edged the same bowler to the wicketkeeper to leave Glamorgan tottering on 38 for 2. But Rees found excellent support in Powell, the pair both remaining unbeaten on 54 at stumps in their stabilising third-wicket stand of 108.

It was a washout at Oakham School for Leicestershire's match against Nottinghamshire.