Tea Report: Nottinghamshire v Surrey

There has been no play here since 24 minutes past 12 because of rain but prospects of a resumption are looking brighter. Apart from the pitch, all areas of the square are now uncovered and the two mobile Blotters have soaked up all visible puddles.

Umpires Peter Willey and Martin Bodenham are planning to inspect at 4.30pm with a view to starting play at five o'clock and there is provision to carry on until 6.30pm because of the time lost.

So the assortment of determined spectators who have been hanging around here for the last four and a half hours have at least some prospect of seeing some action, although they will have to come back tomorrow at least to witness Mark Ramprakash's 100th first-class hundred, should it happen here.

The great man has a long way to go yet, having been stranded on 14 when the rain came.

Report from the morning session:

The man in the spotlight again is Mark Ramprakash as he continues his quest for that elusive 100th first-class century. After two hundreds in his first three matches this year, it did not seem he would be waiting long but since then he has gone eight innings without passing 50.

Today: so far, so good. He is 14 not out at the interruption, although there was one scare when he and Jon Batty got their lines crossed over a single and ended up at the same end. Luckily for them, Nottinghamshire's Mark Wagh fumbled in the field and order was restored without mishap.

It is Nottinghamshire's morning so far, however, with Darren Pattinson claiming two for 10 from his opening five-over spell, striking first with his third ball to get rid of Stewart Walters, caught at third slip trying to fend a delivery that reared up off a length.

It was a disappointment for Walters, making his return after a hamstring injury, and Scott Newman looked pretty glum, too, when he was given out caught behind trying to cut a wide ball. Whether he thought he had missed was not clear, although he probably deserved to go for the shot!

Since then Ramprakash and Batty have added 20, Mark Ealham has replaced Pattinson and Charlie Shreck has taken a well-earned breather after bowling nine overs for 20.