Russell Warren and Tony Penberthy shared a record-breaking partnership to leave Northamptonshire handily placed at the end of a rain-shortened day against third-placed Kent at Wantage Road.

The pair posted 153 in 40 overs for the fourth wicket as the home side rallied strongly from 67-3 to 228-4 when a heavy shower halted play at teatime, docking 42 overs from the total.

Warren hit 13 fours in his 84 from 148 balls, while Penberthy cracked 15 boundaries in a fluent unbeaten 77.

Their valuable stand eclipsed Northants' previous best for the wicket against Kent – 125 by Vallance Jupp and Jack Timms at Folkestone way back in 1928.

Martin Saggers had Northants in early trouble at 16-2 as he removed Adrian Rollins and Alec Swann in successive overs, and a brilliant diving stop and accurate throw from Andrew Symonds ran out his fellow Australian Mike Hussey for 35.

But Warren and Penberthy retrieved the situation, aided by three dropped catches. Warren escaped a chance to gully on 6, while Penberthy was missed on both 59 and 71.

Warren fell to Matthew Fleming, miscuing a pull to substitute fielder Rob Ferley – on for Mark Ealham who was nursing a hamstring twinge – but Penberthy was still there when the weather intervened.

A further inspection was promised for 5.30pm, but a further downpour prompted the umpires to abandon play for the day shortly after 5 o'clock.

© CricInfo