Middlesex-Hawks abandoned due to drizzly showers

By Connor Steel

HAMPSHIRE HAWKS were dealt another “frustrating” afternoon in the Vitality Blast as their scheduled away encounter at Middlesex was abandoned on Saturday; the match umpires making the final decision after two hours of delays, pitch inspections and persistent drizzly showers that prevented a single ball from being delivered at the Radlett Cricket Club.

Recurring showers arrived in the area on Friday evening and continued into Saturday morning before stopping, but did return at approximately 1:30pm with the players starting their warm-ups. This meant that the ‘toss’ was delayed at 2pm as covers covered the batting crease and bowling run-ups to ensure that they were protected from the soggy elements.

Inspections were further held at 3pm and 3:30pm by the umpires as showers eased; whilst grounds staff began to take off the covers and attempted to clear the surface water on the pitch. But it was not enough as the umpires conducted a third inspection just after 4:15pm and decided to abandon the encounter ahead of the set 5:27pm ‘cut off’ point for play.

This third abandonment of the South Group mean that Hampshire remain four points adrift of the quarter final positions and are winless in six Twenty-20 encounters with a negative net run rate. Their next three matches will see them travel away to Sussex Sharks (July 10), before turning to the Utilita Bowl to play Gloucestershire and Somerset (July 12 / 14).

PICTURED BY HAMPSHIRE HAWKS: A bleak sight as protective covers line the pitch at Radlett due to persistent rain.