The rain relented in the West Country enough to allow 21.3 overs
at Taunton, and that was enough for Justin Langer and Marcus Trescothick to launch
Somerset's first innings against
Surrey in style. The pair put on an unbroken 110 for the opening stand as Mark Ramprakash's decision to field first backfired. Thirty-six came from the first 3.5 overs as the openers took toll of wayward spells from Pedro Collins and Jade Dernbach. Trescothick, who became the first Division One batsman to pass 1000 Championship runs this season, peppered the cover boundary with 10 fours in his 65-ball 46 while Langer reached a fine fifty from just 57 balls.
The first day of the Roses match between
Lancashire and
Yorkshire at Old Trafford was also washed out without a ball being bowled.
Middlesex lost Eoin Morgan towards the end of a frustratingly curtailed day
at Derby, but Ed Joyce stroked a fine 64 to leave honours even against
Derbyshire. Play finally got underway at 3.30pm after heavy rain had washed out the morning, but in spite of the helpful conditions, Derbyshire's opening bowlers couldn't find their lines and Billy Godleman and Joyce pounced. Graham Wagg, in particular, struggled with his control - but Charl Langeveldt bowled a tighter spell and had Joyce edging past the slips early in his innings. Godleman rode his luck against Langeveldt before he edged him straight to Chris Rogers, Derbyshire's captain in place of Rikki Clarke who ended his tenure today. Joyce grew in confidence to bring up his fifty, and though he was dropped on 60 by Jon Clare in the gully, Wagg ran him out soon afterwards with a dead-eye throw from mid-on. Late in the day, Morgan top-edged a hook to long-leg to lift Derbyshire spirits - and they could should have had Dawid Malan caught for 12, too, but a simple chance was spilled by Tom New behind the stumps as Middlesex finished the day on 146 for 3.
Rain prevented any play between
Warwickshire and
Essex on the first day
at Edgbaston.
Conditions over in Wales were no less grim, as
Glamorgan and
Gloucestershire's match
at Cardiff failed to start.