Just 207 deliveries possible in draw between Lancashire and Northamptonshire

Only 34.3 overs were possible across all four days of this encounter, the second of which was washed out without a ball being bowled

Northampton (fourth day of four): Lancashire 88-1, Northamptonshire - match drawn

Scorecard

Alex Davies notched a fourth half-century of the season before torrential rain condemned Northamptonshire’s LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Lancashire to an inevitable draw at Wantage Road.

Only 38 balls were possible following a delayed start, but Lancashire’s diminutive opener made the most of the small window in the weather to reach his landmark with a gorgeous cover drive for four, his sixth boundary in a 105-ball stay.

It didn’t come a moment too soon as just three balls later the heavens opened driving the players from the field with Lancashire 88-1 and Davies 51 not out.

The cloudburst didn’t last long, but the cumulative affect of the rain throughout the game, rendered a restart impossible.

It meant only 34.3 overs had been possible across all four days of this encounter, the second of which was washed out without a ball being bowled.

Both sides take eight points each for the draw, enough to move the visitors top of group three ahead of next week’s Roses clash with Yorkshire at Old Trafford.

Northamptonshire remain fourth ahead of their visit to Hove to face Sussex, where, weather permitting, they badly need a win to keep alive hopes of being among the six counties chasing the Championship laurels in September.