Cricket: Rain and Lewis Delay Harmison

There is a good chance that the county champions Nottinghamshire will choose to bat when they next win the toss here. They decided to bowl two weeks ago and promptly lost to Warwickshire. They opted to insert their opponents here too and after two days Durham have lost only six wickets for 332.

Some heavy cloud cover and a little dampness in the pitch persuaded Nottinghamshire that there would be movement for their bowlers but it has been minimal. Only 115 overs have been bowled, which means that a day's play has been lost to rain, and it is difficult to see where this match is going without contrivance - or an inspired comeback spell from Steve Harmison.

Harmison's non-appearance is an issue in itself for the England selectors. They wanted to see how the fast bowler would play over a four-day stretch but he has spent the first half of the match mooching about in the pavilion as Nottinghamshire's bowlers have toiled.

Durham resumed yesterday on 88 for one and Jonathan Lewis batted with such obduracy that the words Northern Rock on his top represented a valid description. He faced 152 balls and hit three fours in the course of his half-century and was lbw soon afterwards, attempting to hit a straight ball to leg.

Gordon Muchall was more fluent. The 23-year-old was looking good to record his third century of the season when, on 88, David Hussey ran from point to short third man to run him out as he went for a second. Gary Pratt struggled when he came to the wicket. He was in for 34 overs before he hit his first confident stroke and was caught behind two balls later for an innings of 26 that had occupied more than two hours. Dale Benkenstein (73) was marginally better.