Rain washes out second day at Edgbaston

Warwickshire's hopes of bouncing into the promotion frame in the County Championship were dealt a blow by rain at Edgbaston. The second day of the match with Middlesex was abandoned early in the afternoon following an unexpected six-hour downpour.

Warwickshire started the game six points behind third-placed Worcestershire and cut the gap with two bonus points as Middlesex reached 292 for 6 on the opening day. But bad weather on Friday held up their bid to force home a breakthrough by Alan Richardson, who was on course for best figures of the season after taking four for 54.

The delay was also disappointing for Middlesex batsman Mark Ramprakash, unbeaten on 77 overnight and only seven runs short of 1,000 for the season.