Tufnell may face action after blocking batsman

The Middlesex spin bowler Phil Tufnell could face action after an incident with Ian Flanagan after he had a bat-pad appeal against the Essex batsman turned down on the second day of their Second Division match at Lord's yesterday.

The Middlesex spin bowler Phil Tufnell could face action after an incident with Ian Flanagan after he had a bat-pad appeal against the Essex batsman turned down on the second day of their Second Division match at Lord's yesterday.

Flanagan took a single from the next ball and Tufnell appeared to impede his progress as he ran towards the non-striker's end. It remains to be seen whether the incident appears in the umpires' report.

Essex had the better of an otherwise uneventful day when they bowled the hosts out for 287 before closing on 64 for 1.

The Nottinghamshire left-hander Usman Afzaal continued his excellent form with a half-century against Warwickshire at Trent Bridge as Nottinhamshire made 149 for 3 on a stop-start first day.

Rain washed out the second day of the match between Gloucestershire and Glamorgan at Bristol.