Weather frustrates Warwickshire again

Warwickshire were frustrated by the weather for the second day running at Derby where less than 19 overs play was possible.

A violent storm shortly after lunch left the umpires with no alternative but to abandon play for the day at 4.15 with Warwickshire on 69-3, still 37 runs behind Derbyshire.

The visitors must now hope for better conditions tomorrow to give them a chance of forcing the victory they need to stand a chance of going up to Division One.

In the 18.4 overs that were possible today, they added 68 runs and lost three wickets, the first that of skipper Michael Powell to the third ball of the day.

After the start was delayed by an hour, Powell pushed Kevin Dean's first delivery into the hands of short leg but Mark Wagh was quickly into his stride and played fluent strokes on both sides of the wicket.

Nick Knight was less assured and had some narrow escapes against Dean and Graeme Welch who found some swing on another blustery day.

But Wagh was the next to go when he played across the line at Welch and was bowled for 30 and in the final over of the morning, David Hemp was lbw going only half forward to Dean.

Knight and Ian Bell both hit boundaries in the eight balls that were possible after lunch but then the rain returned to leave Warwickshire anxiously scanning scores elsewhere and local weather forecasts for the next two days.