County Championship: Peters hits fifty for Northants before rain

Peters has made 31 first-class centuries and has an average of 35.18

Just 28 overs were bowled between Northants and Surrey on a second rain-affected day at Wantage Road.

After the opening day was washed out, play eventually started at 14:00 BST.

Northants lost two early wickets as Surrey debutant Luke Fletcher (1-37) trapped Kyle Coetzer lbw before Tom Curran (1-38) forced Alex Wakely to edge to second slip.

However Stephen Peters made 64 not out as the hosts reached 107-2 before a hailstorm brought an early close.

Peters, who now has four first-class half-centuries to his name this season, hit nine fours in his 84-ball knock, but with more than 150 overs lost so far a positive result looks unlikely.

Surrey assistant coach Stuart Barnes:

"When we got the ball in the right areas we proved that we can ask some seriously good questions of their batsmen.

"We would have liked them more than two down but we need to do better and learn from today.

"If you don't bowl very well on this wicket their batters have shown you can cash in on it, but there's definitely something there for us."

Northants batsman Alex Wakely:

"It's been a frustrating couple of days with the rain, but it's one of the things we have to deal with in English conditions.

"Peters played really well and so did Rob (Newton), they're both very positive and I think that was the way to go on a wicket like that where it was doing plenty."