South Africans enjoy the rain and the rest

Rain and no County Championship matches this past week saw most of the South African connection resting, even allowing Shaun Pollock two days to return to South Africa to join the South African training camp.

Those who did manage to play in the Norwich Union League saw Nic Pothas carrying his bat in both matches played, scoring 50 and 34. Neil Johnson managed 14 apiece and a 2-29 as Hampshire went down to Derby and Northamptonshire in rain affected games.

Andrew Gait and Sven Koenig both scored ducks but ended up on the winning side as rain and Duckworth/Lewis created exciting run chases.

Shaun Pollock, getting back before the start on Sunday morning, managed to take 1-40 but did not need to bat as Warwickshire beat Leicestershire by seven wickets in another rain shortened game.

Kevin Pietersen scored 19 not out in losing to Yorkshire with Nottinghamshire resting both Greg Smith and Nicky Boje.

Rain also had a major impact in the Lancashire league.

One of the few games to go almost untouched saw Martin van Jaarsveld scoring 83 and then taking 2-66 against compatriot Con de Lange. De Lange scored 33 and took 5-77 but ended on the losing side.

Two innings of note were those by Andre Seymore scoring 52 not out, this out of a losing team total of 74 and Jacques Rudolph scoring 25 out of a losing team total of 51. Rudolph also took the only wicket for his team returning 1-14.

Andrew Hall 12 and Pierre Joubert 0-9 had their games completely washed out.