Failure to qualify for next year's Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy was the disappointing consequence when the dire summer weather prevented Cumberland completing a run-chase against Norfolk in their final Minor Counties match of the season at Carlisle this week.

When rain forced the match to be abandoned, ex-Lancashire bat Graham Lloyd was at the crease with Dean Williams with the score on 123-6.

After the captains had got their heads together to produce a contrived finish, Cumberland had been asked to make 207 runs for victory off 65 overs.

A sunny start on Sunday's opening day saw Norfolk make 181 in their first innings, with Glen Capstick top-scoring on 55, while the pick of Cumberland's bowlers were David Rooney (3-27) and Richard Waite (3-47).

Cumberland's reply relied heavily on David Barnes (53no) and Lloyd (33no) as they made 126-5 on a heavily rain-hit second day before declaring in order to allow the match to proceed as a contest.

Norfolk then made 151-2 in their second innings, Carl Rogers hitting 70 and passing 7,000 runs for the county in the process as he took advantage of the convivial bowling.

Cumberland surrendered early wickets in pursuit of the pre-arranged target, but a stand of 42 between Rhys Williams and Scott Richardson helped put them in with a chance.

With Lloyd still there at 123-6, the weather had the final say, Cumberland's eight-point haul not enough to prevent them missing out on the highly desirable C&G ticket, with its chance of facing first-class opposition, by one place in the league table.