The Old Trafford turf held up to increased scrutiny today as Sussex and Lancashire managed to contest 56.1 overs on the first day of their LV County Championship Division One match.

Yesterday the Twenty20 International between England and Australia was controversially abandoned without a ball bowled due to a small damp patch of turf in the midst of the bowler's run-up at the Brian Statham Way End.

It was a decision that did not go down well with Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes and one that looked more embarrassing as play started just 15 minutes late this morning after more overnight rain.

After Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat, Sussex's attack seemed to cope pretty well as they restricted the home side to 131 for five when rain forced an end to the day's play shortly before tea. Mal Loye top-scored for the hosts with 58.

At Chester-le-Street, Shivnarine Chanderpaul used all his experience to compile an unbeaten 117 as Division One leaders Durham built a first-innings lead of 98 against Somerset.

Only Liam Plunkett with 32 and Dale Benkenstein (30) offered any support to Chanderpaul when he resumed on 49 with the score on 110 for three, but the West Indian's efforts ensured Durham's first innings closed out on 272 when the wicket of last man Steve Harmison fell.

Needing to win to have any chance of maintaining a title challenge, Somerset - out for 174 in their first innings - reached 41 for no wicket in their second innings before bad light, then rain, ended play.

Warwickshire captain Ian Westwood gave his side a boost in their bid to stay clear of relegation by making an undefeated 101 against Worcestershire at Edgbaston.

The 27-year-old's first Championship century at his county's headquarters made bottom-of-the-table Worcestershire pay what could be a high price for choosing to field first on winning the toss.

Breezing along to a second 50 from only 57 balls, Westwood comfortably outscored England batsman Ian Bell (32 not out) in an unbroken partnership of 100 as Warwickshire closed on 179 for one after a teatime downpour.

In Division Two, Surrey reached 96 for one against Gloucestershire before bad light and rain prevented any action after lunch on the first day of the match at Bristol.

Home captain Alex Gidman won the toss, but Surrey got off to a good start thanks to a partnership of 70 from openers Michael Brown and Jonathan Batty.

After Brown fell lbw to James Franklin for 37, Championship debutant Arun Harinath (18no) and Batty (39no) batted with few alarms until the premature close.

Elsewhere, only 17.3 overs were possible as rain and bad light decimated the first day of Leicestershire's game against Glamorgan at Grace Road.

The start was delayed by 90 minutes and there were four further stoppages before play was finally called off for the day with Leicestershire on 39 for one.

At Derby, Geraint Jones celebrated another milestone in a memorable season when his fifth Championship century held Kent together.

Jones passed 1,000 Championship runs for the summer on his way to an impressive hundred that carried the Division Two leaders to 232 for five before rain prevented any play after tea.

Derbyshire had reduced Kent to 158 for five with Steffan Jones taking three for 29 in 16 overs but Jones and Alex Blake shared an unbroken stand of 74 to give the visitors the edge.

Wicketkeeper John Simpson hit a maiden first-class half-century on his debut to rescue Middlesex from the brink of a first-day collapse against Northamptonshire at a rain-soaked Wantage Road.

The 21-year-old hit an unbeaten 60 from 73 balls to help Middlesex recover from 97 for four to reach 205 for six before persistent rain and bad light saw proceedings halted after 52 overs.