Surrey suffer frustrating start to season

Surrey and Kent were saved a pointless final day at The Oval when overnight rain saturated the outfield.

Play was abandoned as a draw without a ball being bowled in a match that had long ago reached a stalemate.

Champions Surrey had made 473 in reply to Kent's 456 for eight declared.

Rain also prevented any play this morning at Lord's where Middlesex and Worcestershire were locked in a lower-scoring version of Surrey and Kent's encounter across the Thames.

At the close on day three, Middlesex were 302 for five in reply to the visitors' 301 for eight declared.

Meanwhile, West Indies could give Courtney Walsh a good send-off as they held South Africa to 140 for three in defence of a target of 386 on the fourth day of the final Test.

They are favourites to win what will almost certainly be the veteran fast bowler's final match.