The in-form Michael Lumb helped Nottinghamshire to negotiate a tricky late afternoon session at the Kia Oval on a rain-shortened second day in the Specsavers County Championship Division One match against Surrey.

Left-hander Lumb, whose last three innings in the Royal London One-Day Cup earlier this month have been 105, 133 and 184, reached stumps on 23 not out as Nottinghamshire replied with 82 for 2 to Surrey's first innings 323.

Notts lost both their openers, Jake Libby and Steven Mullaney, in 27 overs' batting after quickly taking the last two Surrey wickets - Gareth Batty for 28 and Stuart Meaker for 6 - when the home side resumed on 299 for 8.

Libby was leg-before for 10 to Ravi Rampaul in the eighth over and Mullaney had batted solidly for 34 from 56 balls, hitting five fours, when he was beaten and bowled by Zafar Ansari's left arm spin.

But Nottinghamshire will be happy enough to get through to the close with just two wickets down, as Lumb was joined by Brendan Taylor, who is unbeaten on 13, in seeing out the final overs in warm sunshine.

How different the ground looked earlier in the day, though, with heavy morning rain leaving big puddles on grass and groundsheets, and when prospects of seeing any cricket looked bleak.

Indeed, play was only able to get under way as early as 4.15pm thanks to a herculean effort from the Oval groundstaff, who spent most of the afternoon mopping up a saturated outfield after the considerable effort of hauling off the huge covers spread right across the arena.

There were a maximum of 36 overs scheduled for the session, but two of those overs were lost for change of innings after Batty and Meaker had secured a third batting bonus point for Surrey before falling in quick succession.

Batty hit a six and three fours in a punchy 32-ball innings, after resuming on 11, but Jake Ball had him caught at the wicket to finish with 4 for 85 while Meaker, on 6, chipped a return catch tamely to left arm spinner Samit Patel.

TEA REPORT

Play finally got under way at 4.15pm on day two of Surrey's Specsavers County Championship Division One match against Nottinghamshire, with 36 overs scheduled to be bowled before stumps.

The Kia Oval groundstaff worked extremely hard to get conditions fit for play after heavy overnight and morning rain had left the outfield saturated.

Surrey resumed their first innings on 299 for 8 and, after two overs' play, had made sure of a third batting bonus point by moving beyond 300 with ninth wicket pair Gareth Batty and Stuart Meaker at the crease.

While they waited for play to begin, the big consolation for the few supporters in the ground was that Surrey's annual beer festival, held over all four days of this game under the newly-renovated Peter May Stand, was determinedly open for business. A good range of ales were also on sale, including selections from the local Surrey Hills and Wimbledon breweries.

LUNCH REPORT

Heavy rain in south London meant no play before lunch on the second day of Surrey's Specsavers County Championship Division One match against Nottinghamshire - and little prospect of very much play after it.

Puddles of water were already forming on the Kia Oval outfield by noon, and on the huge covers spread right across the field. It was a bleak scene, and a extremely frustrating one for both counties who currently sit in the bottom part of the first division.

Surrey were due to resume their first innings at 299 for 8 after a fiercely-contested opening day but, in truth, the chance of any play at all on day two looked slim.

The only consolation for the few supporters in the ground was that Surrey's annual beer festival, held over all four days of this game under the newly-expanded Peter May Stand, was still determinedly open for business. And, despite it not quite being lunchtime, there were also already some customers.

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