THE Cumberland Minor Counties cricket team travelled to play Shropshire in the MCCA Trophy at Shrewsbury on Saturday night, knowing that heavy rain was forecast to seriously impinge on the day's cricket, reports Steven Sharp (Cumberland Chairman of Cricket).

The weather forecasters got it exactly right with a slight drizzle after the early overs turning into heavy rain.

The umpires stayed out in the middle until seven overs had been completed and then withdrew the stumps.

No further play was possible and the game was abandoned by mutual consent between the captains at 1.30pm.

It certainly was an entertaining few over after the Cumberland captain for the day, Gary Pratt, won the toss and inserted the opposition.

The first ball of the day resulted in a very confident lbw appeal by Chris Hooker against the home captain, ex-Gloucestershire County player Tim Hancock, who waited a few anxious moments before setting off for a leg bye.

Hancock also got the benefit of the doubt from an appeal for a catch behind down the leg side. He eventually tried a pull to leg when the ball was not there to hit and skied a catch from Chris Hooker to Darren Clark at mid-on, who made a difficult catch look easy.

The next batsman J. Whitney, was soon comprehensively clean bowled by Hooker to leave the hosts 8-2 when play was curtailed.

David 'Boots' Rooney opened the bowling from the opposite end and was unlikely to come away without a wicket. A difficult dropped catch at backward point and also a very confident stumping appeal from debutant Chris D'Leny could have made the scorecard look even more miserable.

Chris Hooker's figures were four overs three maidens, one run, two wickets. Dave Rooney's figures were three overs, one maiden, two runs, no wickets.

All in all a promising start from the Cumberland opening bowlers was ruined by the weather. The next game is at home to Herefordshire at Workington CC on Monday, May 21. Everything is still to play for in the round-robin competition with the winners progressing to the semi-finals, the final being played at Lord's.