Justin Broad and Stuart van der Merwe shared a productive partnership but more rain dented Northamptonshire 2XI’s chance to set a score on Day 3 against Warwickshire 2XI.

With the final two hours of play cut short due to weather yesterday evening, Louis Kimber and Rob Keogh looked to set Northamptonshire on their way to a big second innings score. The pair added 17 before Keogh was caught at slip for 15 by Jani off the bowling of Trodd, leaving the visitors 43/3.

Kimber continued fluently, blasting Ali for an enormous six over midwicket as he and Broad counter-attacked in the morning session. Broad, still managing his return from a back injury, looked imperious against seam and spin, driving Todd down the ground in eye catching fashion before punishing some shorter bowling off the back foot.

Kimber was then caught at cover for 33, striking five boundaries in total, bringing Stuart van der Merwe to the crease with Northamptonshire 75/4, 77 behind Warwickshire.

He and Broad played nicely with the latter going to 50 off just 61 balls, with eight fours and a six to his name.

Van der Merwe looked in good touch too, reverse-sweeping beautifully off Ali as he set himself on his way and used his feet to good effect against spin. The 50 partnership was reached after 61 balls, propelling Northamptonshire to within 27 of their deficit.

At lunch, van der Merwe was nicely placed on 34 and Broad 69, having earned a slender but valuable lead of ten runs at the interval, sat on 162/4.

However, the persistent showers that have blighted the entire match struck again as rain filled the ground in Birmingham, keeping the players off the field as the third afternoon wore on.

With the prospect of an afternoon washout looming, the umpires eventually called time on the day just after 3:30pm, leaving Northamptonshire ten runs ahead with six wickets in hand.

Broad and van der Merwe will be looking to bat their team to safety on the final day whilst Warwickshire’s bowlers will be on the hunt for six wickets before their batters get to work on a late chase.

Play starts at 11am tomorrow and a scorecard and clips can be found here.