Day two of Lancashire v Durham at Liverpool CC was called off at 2.30pm due to a soaked outfield.
Early morning play had delayed the start but some play was anticipated after the scheduled 1.30pm inspection however this was postponed due to further torrential downpours.
Day one round up
Durham had restricted Lancashire to 221-6 at the close of play on the first day of their LV= County Championship clash at Liverpool CC with Graham Onions the pick of the attack with three wickets
Following heavy rain the day before the game the wet outfield at Aigburth saw the start of play delayed until after lunch with 75 overs available to play.
Having been nominated to field first by the home side Durham maximised on the conditions early on, reducing Lancashire to 11-4 by the 11th over.
Graham Onions made the breakthrough, bowling Paul Horton for 3 and not to be out done, Chris Rushworth struck the following over when Karl Brown was caught at second slip by Scott Borthwick without scoring.
A second catch from Borthwick five deliveries later saw Onions claim the scalp of the other opener, Luke Procter, who scored 6. He picked up his third wicket, bowling Steven Croft, in the 11th over.
A 47 run stand between Ashwell Prince and Tom Smith saw Lancashire reach 58 before a catch from Mark Stoneman off the bowling of Ben Stokes saw the dangerman, Prince, dismissed for 31.
A patent half century from Gareth Cross helped Lancashire pass the hundred mark and his wicket was duly celebrated by Stokes, who bowled him on 57 in the 50th over leaving Lancashire 130-6.
Despite the best efforts of the Durham attack, Smith battled out in the middle for a 123 ball fifty and remained unbeaten at the close (86*) as did Kyle Hogg (36*) with their 91 run partnership guiding Lancashire to 221-6 at the end of the first day.
Head Coach Geoff Cook said, “It was a hard fought day. I felt that our bowling initially was top class but as the day wore on the wicket dried out a bit and became pretty comfortable to bat on as the ball got older.
“With the situation of the game Tom Smith had to buckle down and he played very well. The wicket will suit their spinners and it’s different to other wickets we have played on this season so it’s been a different challenge with the ball. Graham Onions has been outstanding today. Callum Thorp had to leave the field this afternoon and his control would have been useful. He’s pretty stiff so i think we’ll have to plan for the rest of the game without him.”