Lancashire reached 128/1 at lunch before heavy rain prevented any further play in their three-day pre-season friendly against Leeds-Bradford MCCU at Emirates Old Trafford.
Paul Horton (83) and Luis Reece (39*) shared a first-wicket partnership worth 120 runs after the hosts had won the toss and elected to bat first. Early conditions were incredibly cold and windy, but the sides managed a respectable 32 overs before relentless rain brought play to a premature close at 16.50.
Debutant Alviro Petersen made 6 not out as Alex Lilley (1-27) made the only breakthrough of the day when he encouraged Horton to edge behind to Chris Wakefield, rewarding the left-arm fast bowler for his efforts in the morning session.
Horton's innings accelerated in the grey conditions at Old Trafford as he and Reece reached 50 after only 13 overs had been played. He then reached a fifty of his own in 60 deliveries, his eighth boundary taking him to a much-needed half-cenutry and his first in all of Lancashire's pre-season matches.
Reece's innings gained momentum after Horton reached this milestone, as he played a number of trademark pull shots in an innings containing four boundaries thus far. The pair soon brought up the hundred-partnership as Horton continued to score the majority of runs, often finding the gap between second and fourth slip, which proved frustrating for the visitors.
Horton's last century for Lancashire came against Durham in their tense one-wicket victory last season and the opener was approaching a hundred before he nicked behind to Wakefield 20 minutes before lunch.
The decision had been made before the start of play to play until 13.15 to maximise the amount of time the two teams could be out in the middle for and this proved to be a worthwhile move as the rain settled in during the interval.
This brought Petersen to the crease and the South-African made a nervous start, eventually getting off the mark as he got an inside-edge down to fine leg which very nearly deflected on to his stumps. The light continued to get progressively worse before lunch and halfway through the interval the covers -which became a permanent fixture - were brought on as heavy rain settled in, a familiar sight for the Manchester faithful.
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