Bob Willis Trophy: Sir Alastair Cook completes century for Essex against Hampshire before Arundel rain

Sir Alastair Cook's haul of first-class hundreds (66) are now split equally between Test matches and non-Tests

Sir Alastair Cook moved past 24,000 first-class career runs and completed his 66th century on another rain-hit day at Arundel in the meeting of the South Group's top two.

After resuming on 75 out of Essex's 146-2, Cook reached lunch still unbeaten on 129 and his side on 249-3.

But heavy lunchtime rain in Sussex, at Hampshire's temporary cross-border home, then ended play for the day.

Dan Lawrence was chief support with 37 not out in a stand of 78.

Nightwatchman Jamie Porter managed to survive 13 overs in the morning before he was lbw to Ryan Stevenson for eight.

• Relive Monday's Bob Willis Trophy action as it happened

After that it was a case of England past and potential England future as Lawrence came out to join Cook in the middle.

Lawrence, who was a reserve in the England Test bubble this summer, has returned to his county in fine form after hitting 60 against Sussex at Hove last week.

And he continued that form with a typically stylish innings which included a lovely straight six off Mason Crane, although he maybe rode his luck with his backing up at the non-striker's end.

Cook, currently the active player with most runs in world cricket, used his perfected arsenal of shots, mostly square either side of the wicket.

He reached his 180-ball century with a push to mid-wicket, then moved to another milestone when a single on the cusp of lunch made him the 148th player to reach 24,000 runs.

But that left Essex still one short of a second batting point when torrential lunchtime rain made an already wet outfield absolutely sodden.

And, if the weather forecast proves as bad as is feared ahead of Tuesday's final day, there may not be much more play in the game.

Hampshire spinner Mason Crane:

"It is good to play against players like Cook. He is obviously one of the best. He is annoying to bowl at because he is so good but you have to appreciate how good he is.

"He played really well and the wicket didn't give anyone too much. He got in and made it count. It is a lesson for everyone out there that once you get yourself in you have to make it a big one.

"Everybody knows the injury problems I've had but I'm enjoying my bowling. It is nice to play red-ball cricket and be fully fit. If I want to bowl a bit quicker I can, and if I want to bowl a slightly longer spell I can."

Essex batsman Sir Alastair Cook:

"It is a good wicket to bat on. It is very sub-continent like. In the first few overs you wonder where your next run is coming from because it is hard to time the ball.

"When Dan Lawrence was batting he was like 'where am I scoring?' and I told him 'trust me, it will come to you, and once you get in it is almost a case of not making a mistake - which suits my game.

"I've batted with 'The Kid' a few times and we have seen this winter that he has taken huge strides as a batsman. For a 23-year-old, his development is going as well as it can, and he's ready for an England chance whenever it might come."

Match report supplied by PA Media.