Weather is the winner as cricket fixtures hit

THE Vitality County Championship match between Lancashire and Surrey looks certain to end in a draw after only 21 balls were bowled on the third day of the game at Emirates Old Trafford.

Surrey had progressed to 15 without loss in their first innings when rain forced an early lunch to be taken at 1.10 p.m.

During the interval, the entire square and bowlers’ run-ups were covered in anticipation of heavy showers and safety concerns about strong winds prevented the covers’ removal, though no rain was falling when the game was due to restart.

The expected rain eventually arrived at 2.30pm with play eventually abandoned after a 4.00pm inspection.

Should weather allow any cricket to take place on the final day, the match is now likely to become a battle for first-innings bonus points as Surrey’s batters build a reply to Lancashire’s 202 all out.

Dom Sibley is currently six not out and Surrey skipper Rory Burns is unbeaten on five.

It was a familiar story at Derby where there was no play for the third day running in the match between Derbyshire and Gloucestershire.

More overnight rain on an already-saturated outfield left the ground unfit for the Division Two match to start.

Umpires Ian Blackwell and Neil Pratt took the inevitable decision to call play off for the day after a 2pm inspection.

If the weather prevents the game from starting on Monday, it will be the first time since 1981 that there has been no play in a Championship match at Derby.

Durham and Hampshire also continue to wait for the start of their season as play was abandoned in Chester-le-Street for a third consecutive day.

Consistent overnight downpours made the outfield unplayable.