MAY-DAY Bank Holiday and cricketers were thronging the bars as the revolution (of the ball) got put on hold because of the Atlantic depression sweeping in across Cumbria.

The wet weather wiped out a tempting double-bill, starting on Saturday when both Kendal and Netherfield failed to get a finish.

Kendal's professional Kabir Khan looked decidedly sharp, though, taking four for 11 and seemed virtually unplayable as he sent down eight maidens in his 13-over stint.

Opponents Leyland and Farington had wilted to 116 for eight after 45 overs when the weather took a turn for the worse.

No further play was possible and Kendal made a wasted trip trip to Morecambe on Monday only to find parts of the ground flooded.

After a shake of hands between the captains, many of the Shap Road side returned to neighbours Netherfield, who waited until 4pm to try and get a start against visitors Darwen.

There were blue skies above, barring one early heavy shower, in the afternoon but the umpires deemed the ground unfit and, in particular, the run-up from the Castle End, and the match was also abandoned.

Netherfield got a bit of batting practice in at Preston,when professional had another hefty knock of 76 to go with his century and two half-centuries so far, but after making 157-8 off 52 overs, rain prevented their hosts from replying.

All of Saturday's programme ended up abandoned, with no umpires turning up at the Lancaster v Darwen match as a result of a disciplinary disagreement hanging over from last season involving the umpires' federation.

May 6, 2003 15:30