LAST night's thunderstorms took their toll on day three of Kent's championship match with Warwickshire in Birmingham.

The thunder, lightning and heavy rain of Thursday night left the Edgbaston run-ups, particularly at the Pavilion End, awash and unplayable.

The umpires Barry Dudleston and Merv Kitchen inspected at 11am and declared the players will take an early lunch at 12.45pm, with a view to a further inspection at 1.30pm, providing there is no further rain.

The delay is an undoubted blow to Kent who, after a poor opening day, fought back bravely to dismiss the hosts for 457.

They then reached 135 without loss in reply, cracking 26 boundaries inside 25 overs, before the rain arrived to force Thursday's early close.