WORCESTERSHIRE'S hopes of clawing their way back against Northamptonshire looked in danger of being washed out by the wet weather today.

No action was possible before lunch and prospects for any play today looked bleak.

Only 32 overs were possible yesterday when Northants closed last night on 196-3 in reply to the County's 236.

The main stumbling block for the Worcestershire attack was Australian Phil Jaques who took his overnight 27 not out to an undefeated 86. He put on 76 in 20 overs with opener Michael Hussey who was caught by Steve Rhodes off Matt Mason for 45.

Success

Jeff Cook managed just two before he had his middle stump knocked out by Kabir Ali. It was the County's last success on a severely curtailed day.

Play finally got under way at 4.30pm after several frustrating hours of mopping up operations. Heavy rain a couple of hours before the scheduled start added to the overnight downfall and started to flow off the covers and seep under the plastic sheeting. It was particularly damaging to the bowlers' run-ups at the New Road end.

The County's chief executive Mark Newton issued a public apology saying the club were 'sorry and embarrassed' by the situation.