ENGLAND international Ravi Bopara moved closer to his second century of the week on a rain-shortened second day of Essex’s County Championship match at Northamptonshire.

Only 13 wicketless overs were bowled at Wantage Road before bad light forced the players off and the rain soon followed, leading to play being abandoned for the day in the afternoon with Essex on 195 for four.

Bopara, pushing for an England recall for the upcoming one-day series against the West Indies, moved on to 87, including 15 fours.

He will be looking to follow up the unbeaten 120 he smashed against Gloucestershire in the Clydesdale Bank 40 on Monday when play resumes today.

He was ably supported by his captain and wicketkeeper James Foster’s 60 not out with their partnership now standing at 138.

Essex began the day on 138 for four with Bopara resuming on 65 and Foster on 25 after they had helped salvage what was a faltering innings on the first day, with the first four wickets falling for just 57.

But the start was delayed by 15 minutes as the ground staff made sure everywhere was dry enough for play to begin.

Bopara and Foster completed their century partnership in the third over of the day when Foster bludgeoned Jack Brooks through midwicket for four.

Foster then pulled another boundary over the same area of the field off Lee Daggett to go past 50 off 101 balls.

Umpires Trevor Jesty and Tim Robinson took the players off for bad light just after midday. By then the visitors had added 57 to their overnight total. Half an hour after the players left the field, rain began to fall, leading to the Northants ground staff bringing on the covers and lunch being brought forward.

The umpires finally called off proceedings at 2:30pm. With just 63 overs played over the first two days, a draw already looks inevitable.