ONLY one day's play was possible in the Minor Counties Cricket Championship match between Lincolnshire and Cleethorpes and the game was abandoned, both side taking eight points.

Cumberland's Marcus Sharp won the toss and put Lincolnshire in they were quickly reduced to 24-4. Martyn Dobson and Robert Cook changed the complexion, however, with a fifth wicket partnership of 255, a new Lincolnshire fifth-wicket batting record.

Ian Hunter bowled Cook for 148 with the score on 279-5 and seven minutes later Dobson was caught behind off Hunter by keeper Dean Williams for 115.

Lincolnshire's seventh wicket fell for 337 when Oliver Burford was caught by David Barnes off Marcus Sharp for 48.

The home side eventually reached 401-9 off 90 overs to take four batting points while Cumberland gathered four bowling points, Hunter returned 7-111 off 24 overs.

In the 20 overs left for play Cumberland reached 102-0, Scott Richardson was on 58 not out and hit 11 boundaries, while David Barnes was on 33.

After the game was abandoned Sharp said: "The pitch had water standing on it and there was no point in waiting around. It now looks likely that we must win our last match of the season, at Carlisle, against Norfolk to qualify for the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy."