On a frustrating day at Trent Bridge the elements triumphed, allowing only 9.4 overs play during which Notts, put in to bat, reached 41—1.

Overnight rain prevented any play at all until 3.l5pm and only eight deliveries were then bowled before the first in a series of stoppages.

Admirable work by the ground staff enabled a re—start after tea and Darren Bicknell profited by picking up successive boundaries off Melvyn Betts. The first was allied to good fortune when an inside edge sped to the ropes past the diving 'keeper but the next ball was perfectly clipped through square leg.

With the score on 16 the Bears picked up their first wicket. Guy Welton fenced at a sharply lifting ball from Betts and turned to see his thick outside edge well held by Keith Piper diving across in front of the slips.

Three runs were added before another heavy shower drove the players off the field but again they returned 45 minutes later.

Bicknell began this short session with an on—driven three and Blewett hit the next ball to the midwicket boundary. Without any major alarms the pair had advanced the score to 41 in the 10th over when again, a combination of bad light and rain sent the players from the field.

With an unsettled forecast we can expect more of the same on the second day although, thankfully, there are brighter prospects for the final two days of this match.

© CricInfo