Rain allowed only 55 minutes' play on the second day of the Division One contest between Northamptonshire and Kent at Wantage Road.

The hosts progressed from 228-4 overnight to 277-5, losing the wicket of Tony Penberthy (77) in adding 49 runs.

An overnight deluge ruled out any cricket until 12.30pm, and in the third over of the day Ben Trott had Penberthy caught behind without adding to his Wednesday night score. The Cornishman had struck 15 fours in his three-hour stay.

Graeme Swann and Toby Bailey – unbeaten on 28 and 20 respectively – secured a second batting bonus point for Northants, and guided their side to 269-5 at lunch.

Only three more overs were bowled after the break when more rain drove the players from the field and prompted an early tea.

Umpires Peter Willey and George Sharp planned to inspect the conditions at 4pm, but by that stage the skies were darkening again and they decided that nothing more could be done.

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