CC1: Rain, Rain, Rain

The English Summer sent down torrents of torrential downpour that wouldn't have looked out of place in Bangladesh in the monsoon season throughout Monday, with the predictable results that none of the Division One games produced a definitive result.

Lord's: Surrey 12, Middlesex 10
Ben Hutton, Ian Ward and Mark Ramprakash all made centuries on a placid batting track - only 22 wickets fell in the course of the match, and by the time Middlesex declared to bring the match to a close, all hope of a result had been lost. Sven Koenig and Andy Strauss both fell just short of final-day centuries.

Chelmsford: Essex 12, Kent 10
A similar story was told just up the East Coast, as Nasser Hussain returned to form with 29 fours in his 206 in the hosts' 514. With a lead of 133, bowling Kent out quickly was necessary. It didn't happen. Despite a collapse to 108/4, Mark Ealham (101) and Geraint Jones (108*) made certain of the draw, by which time Andy Flower was bowling (and taking the wicket of Jamie Tredwell, too)...

Leicester: Nottinghamshire 10, Leicestershire 8
There were less runs at Grace Road, but Leicester's last-day chase of 402 was thwarted by heavy rain that meant no play at all was possible. Paul Franks' maiden Championship ton (123*) and Virender Sehwag's stellar 137 including 25 fours, were the highlights

CricketWeb Player of the Round: Nasser Hussain (Essex) - 206

Posted by Neil