It was a quiet day in the field for the South African contingent throughout the English county league on Monday.

Richard Levi is struggling to find his rhythm as a Northampton opener. After scoring just 22 in the first innings against Leicestershire, he went for 20 in the second as Northants ended day two on 105-2, a lead of 51 with eight wickets remaining. In his four innings, he has scored 84, at an average of 21.

It wasn’t a great day for Rory Kleinveldt either, taking just one wicket for 53 off 19.5 overs.

Ashwell Prince, whose 106 provided the backbone of  Lancashire’s innings of 444, did not have much to do as young Zimbabwean Kyle Jarvis continued his great form in taking 3-35 off 11 overs and restricting Kent to 214-7 at Old Trafford on Monday.

Jarvis, son of left-arm paceman Malcolm, who played in Zimbabwe’s inaugural Test match against India in 1992-93, was one of the heroes of Lancashire’s win over Derbyshire last week, ending with 5-13 off 19 overs.

Kent, trailing by 230 runs with three wickets remaining, have a fight on their hands.

It was a long day in the field for Kevin Pietersen at the Oval, too, as Essex built up a score of 226-2 in reply to Surrey’s 340, to which KP contributed 32.

Vernon Philander continues to struggle to take wickets, while bowling conservatively. He took 1-37 off 14 as Hampshire ended the day on 167-4, in reply to Notts’ 371. He has an average of 42, taking 4-168 off 77.5. Gareth Berg ended with 3-88 in the morning, which included Philander’s wicket, for one.

Up north, Keaton Jennings’ Durham team are on the edge, with Sussex 111 ahead with seven wicket in hand. He contributed 35 to Durham’s 339 in reply to Sussex’s 335. In the second effort, Sussex were 115-3.

Derbyshire captain Wayne Madsen is basking in reflected glory after Martin Guptill’s double-century propelled the team to 511-8 and a lead of 236 runs over Gloucestershire (275)