Bad weather was again the story of the day across the LV= County Championship scene with all eight matches affected.
While everyone except Glamorgan and Yorkshire managed at least some play, few managed very much to leave most games likely heading for a draw.
Division One strugglers Durham still have a chance of victory over Warwickshire at Chester-le-Street, but their chances were compromised as only 41 overs were possible on Thursday.
They used them to add 119 runs at a cost of five wickets, putting them on 147 for seven, a lead of 227.
However, a bad forecast means they are unlikely to get a chance to push for victory.
Lancashire added two bonus points and Nottinghamshire one as just 21 overs of play were possible on day two of their clash at Trent Bridge.
Thanks to the drainage system, hard work of the groundstaff and floodlights, play was able to start just 40 minutes late - albeit under gloomy skies.
But, after an early, rain-induced break for lunch, a second downpour soon after the resumption proved terminal, ending the action at 1345.
During the play that was possible, Lancashire carried their overnight score from 203 for six to 272 for nine as their tail wagged.
Ashwell Prince missed out on a second Championship century of the season when he was seventh out on 80 (162 balls, five fours) with the total on 243.
The weather hindered Middlesex's efforts to secure all five batting bonus points on day three of their contest against Somerset at Lord's.
Just 17.5 overs were possible before rain intervened for the second and final time at 1215, with the hosts on 364 for three in reply to Somerset's 173 all out.
Dawid Malan managed a half-century before falling on 51.
Stuart Meaker led a Surrey fightback with three wickets during the two brief spells of play possible on the second day of their match against Sussex.
Surrey, who had been bowled out for 124 on day one, took four wickets for nine runs in the six overs that were possible today to reduce Sussex to 90 for six before rain washed out play.
The 23-year-old Meaker, who is hoping to add to his two England ODI caps in the series against Australia later this month, struck with the first ball of the day when Sussex skipper Mike Yardy could only fend a well-directed bouncer into the hands of Mark Ramprakash at gully, and later removed Joe Gatting and Ben Brown.
Surrey made 124 in their first innings.
In Division Two, top-of-the-table Derbyshire were again left frustrated by the weather as rain reduced the third day's play against Leicestershire to 18.1 overs at a soggy Grace Road.
In that time, the Division Two leaders scored another 68 runs to reach 259 for five, giving them a lead of 82 runs and a second batting bonus point.
Dan Redfern and David Wainwright extended their unbeaten sixth wicket partnership to 109, with Redfern looking well on course for his third Championship century of the season.
The 22-year-old was still there on 81 off 138 balls when play was abandoned for the day in mid-afternoon. Wainwright was 45 not out.
Not a ball was bowled in Yorkshire's match against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay, where Glamorgan were stranded on 117 for three in their first innings after only 34 overs were possible on the first day.
Ravi Bopara moved closer to his second century of the week in the 13 overs possible in Essex's match at Northamptonshire.
Essex reached 195 for four with Bopara, pushing for an England recall for the upcoming one-day series against the West Indies, on 87 off 180 balls, including 15 fours.
He will be looking to follow up the unbeaten 120 he smashed against Gloucestershire in the Clydesdale Bank 40 on Monday when play resumes tomorrow.
At Tunbridge Wells, Hampshire reached 90 for three in the first innings against Kent before play was abandoned early for a second day.
