The Cricketer wraps up the best of the action during day four of the first round of Vitality County Championship matches in 2024
Chester-le-Street (day four of four): Durham v Hampshire - match abandoned without a ball bowled
Durham and Hampshire have had to settle for a draw in their Vitality County Championship opener without a ball being bowled across all four days.
On day four there seemed to be a possibility of play, but captains Scott Borthwick and James Vince shook hands after an inspection at 12pm.
The recent downpours at the Seat Unique Riverside have come after a winter where there's been little respite for ground staff up and down the country due to consistent rainfall.
Both sides will be looking to kickstart their seasons in round two when Durham travel to Edgbaston where they will go toe-to-toe with club record wicket-taker Chris Rushworth when they face Warwickshire, while Hampshire welcome Lancashire to the Utilita Bowl.
Related - County cricket ins and outs 2024: Signings, transfers, squad updates
No play was possible across four days at Chester-le-Street [Stu Forster/Getty Images]
Canterbury (day four of four): Kent 284 & 290-4d, Somerset 403 - match drawn
Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond both hit centuries as Kent survived a mid-morning scare to earn a draw with Somerset in the County Championship at Canterbury.
Kent were in trouble on 10 for 2 and again at 70 for 3, until a partnership of 222 for the fourth wicket took the sting out of the contest and they closed on 290 for 4 declared.
Denly beat his partner to three figures, posting 110 from 142 balls including 11 fours and a six, while Bell-Drummond made 107 from 169, with 14 fours.
Earlier Kasey Aldridge hit 57 before Somerset were bowled out for 403, a lead of 119. Nathan Gilchrist had Kent's best bowling figures with 3 for 64.
***
Old Trafford (day four of four): Lancashire 202, Surrey 15-0 - match drawn
The County Championship match between Lancashire and Surrey ended in a draw after no play was possible on the final day of the game at Emirates Old Trafford.
The water table on the ground is very high and heavy overnight rain had made the prospects of play slim even before a further morning shower, but umpires Peter Hartley and Paul Pollard carried out three inspections before finally pulling the plug at 2.15pm.
Having bowled out Lancashire for 202 on Saturday , Surrey take 11 points from the game while Lancashire take eight. Rory Burns' team now return home to play Somerset at The Oval in a game starting on Friday while Lancashire's next match is away at Hampshire, also on Friday.
Related: "Two overs doesn't constitute a match": Lancashire wait on Nathan Lyon update
Jake Libby was in the runs for Worcestershire [David Rogers/Getty Images]
Trent Bridge (day four of four): Essex 253 & 374-9d, Nottinghamshire 293 & 80 - Essex won by 254 runs
Essex, runners-up behind Surrey last year, underlined their 2024 credentials with a comprehensive 254-run win over Nottinghamshire in the County Championship at at Trent Bridge, seamer Sam Cook spearheading their victory with superb figures of 6 for 14 to go with his first-innings hat-trick as the home side were bowled out for just 80.
However, Essex now face an anxious wait to see if they will suffer a points deduction after opener Feroze Khushi's bat failed an on-field dimensions check during their second innings. They could potentially lose all of their 16 win points if an offence is confirmed.
Cook's strike partner Jamie Porter took 3 for 43 as Nottinghamshire collapsed in 34.3 overs, with Joe Clarke top-scoring with a modest 19.
Regardless of how many of their 20 points they ultimately keep, Essex will be grateful to the Nottinghamshire ground staff for the chance to complete a full match with bad weather around the country wreaking havoc. Derbyshire, whose ground is just 15.5 miles away, did not see a ball bowled in four days.
***
Edgbaston (day four of four): Worcestershire 360 & 295-3, Warwickshire 333 - match drawn
Warwickshire and Worcestershire launched their County Championship season with a draw after bad weather shunted a hitherto intriguing game up a cul-de-sac at Edgbaston.
Worcestershire were frustratingly denied a chance to press for victory on their return to Division One after a wet outfield prevented play before lunch on the final day. After the loss of the last session the previous day, that took too much time out of the match for Brett D'Oliveira's side to capitalise on the strong position they had built, largely through Kashif Ali's two superb centuries.
In the sliver of play that was possible on the final day, they took their overnight score from 237 for 2 (264 ahead) to 295 for 3. Jake Libby advanced to 101 not out (182 balls), his 17th first-class century, before another downpour proved terminal.
If there was some frustration for Worcestershire at being denied an opportunity to record their first Championship win at Edgbaston since 1993, there was also plenty of room for satisfaction. They acquitted themselves extremely well on their return to Division One.
Join The Cricketer's brand new Whatsapp channel for the latest breaking news, comment and features - click here to become a member
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.