BLACKCAPS captain Stephen Fleming was back at the helm for Nottinghamshire in English county cricket when rain finally cleared allowing a start in championship matches.
Fleming scored 42 for Nottinghamshire's 201 for seven against Lancashire at Old Trafford, becoming the hosts' sixth wicket with the score on 173.
Middlesex made 253 for three at stumps against Warwickshire at Lord's.
BLACKCAPS left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori bowled only 11 overs on his first day of First-Class cricket for the visitors, finishing with 0-37. International team-mate Scott Styris is the next batsmen in.
Essex is playing Gloucestershire at Chelmsford and former BLACKCAPS opener Craig Spearman was dismissed for 19 in Gloucestershire's total of 396.
Spearman was dismissed by his old State Auckland Aces team-mate Andre Adams who took 3-71. Adams had taken eight wickets for 400 runs in four matches before the latest game.
In three matches before today, Spearman had scored 141 runs at 28.2.
Essex in reply was 172-3 at stumps on day two.
