I glimpse the sprawling hotel from a distance, nestled into the lush hills on the outskirts of Chongqing. The air is fresher here, the temperature several degrees cooler than the sprawling metropolis of more than 30 million people below.

Leicestershire set Derbyshire 314 in a minimum of 69 overs but heavy showers forced a draw at 5pm with Martin Guptill stranded on 67 from 75 balls in Derbyshire’s 91 without loss.

Another lbw decision for South Africa’s Alviro Petersen has brought whispers at Glamorgan, his previous county, that his vulnerability has been exposed. After a rain-hit draw between Yorkshire and Essex, England’s bowlers will take note.

Worcestershire’s Auastralian Michael Klinger struck an undefeated 69 to make light of a previously treacherous Oval pitch where all 22 players had batted the previous day. Rain forced an abandonment with Surrey under pressure.

Four wickets from Steven Finn gave Middlesex a glimpse of an unlikely victory on the final evening but after more than half a match of rain interruptions the outcome was the one that was always the easiest to predict.

Warwickshire missed out on the title on the final day of last season, but they held their nerve for the second week running to claim a five-wicket victory over Lancashire to establish themselves among the early division one pacesetters.