Rain seals Northamptonshire's fate

Northamptonshire's slim hopes of making the last eight of the Friends Provident Trophy ended when rain washed out their Group D game at Derbyshire without a ball being bowled.

The Steelbacks now cannot catch Essex who are in second place and favourites to go through to the quarter-finals with Lancashire who have already qualified.

The no result has also hit Derbyshire's slender chances of a place in the last eight, leaving the Phantoms needing to win their remaining two games and hope Essex lose their last three.

Heavy rain in the morning had prevented the floodlit game starting at the scheduled time of 2.30pm but it looked as if a reduced overs match would be possible.

However, although umpires Nigel Llong and John Steele carried out four inspections, another downpour left them with no option but to abandon the contest shortly after 6pm.

The Derbyshire groundstaff reach for the covers once again on a frustrating day at the County Ground

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