Phantoms hopes dealt a soaking

Charl Langeveldt took two wickets before weather intervened © Getty Images

Buy this photo

Derbyshire Phantoms' chances of reaching the Friends Provident Trophy quarter-finals were hit by rain, which washed out the match against Yorkshire Phoenix at Derby.

The Phantoms had the visitors in trouble at 59 for four from 21.1 overs when the clouds rolled in and with no sign of a break in the weather, the game was abandoned with the sides taking a point each.

Derbyshire still remain favourites to progress from the North Division but in a tight group they could still be overtaken by Durham and Yorkshire for a place in the last eight.

They could have taken a big stride towards the quarter-finals by beating Yorkshire and they were in a strong position after their seamers made good use of helpful conditions after skipper Rikki Clarke won the toss.

There was movement and bounce for the bowlers, who struck twice in the first six overs to reduce the visitors to six for two.

Charl Langeveldt had Craig White taken at second slip for a single and then removed the dangerous Anthony McGrath in his third over.

McGrath has an excellent record against Derbyshire but he suffered a rare failure when he got one that bounced and left him to be caught behind.

Andrew Gale pulled Graham Wagg to the midwicket boundary but he fell to a poor shot against the same bowler in the 11th over.

Gayle had made 11 when he attempted another pull but this time he miscued the stroke and lobbed the ball to mid-on, where Clarke dived forward to take the catch.

Batting was far from easy and Jacques Rudolph and Adam Lyth had to fight hard as they tried to rebuild the innings.

The fourth-wicket pair had taken the total to 56 when Tom Lungley, who had struggled with his line in the strong wind, brought one back sharply to bowl Lyth for 18.

Only one more over was possible before the rain arrived and umpires Trevor Jesty and Nigel Llong called the game off at 5pm.

Derbyshire now travel to the Riverside to play Durham tomorrow in a game crucial to both team's chances of going through to the quarter-finals.