Rain ends Durham title hopes

Durham Dynamos’ NatWest Pro40 League Division One game against Lancashire Lightning was abandoned without a ball being bowled which ended their chances of winning the title.

Following a pitch inspection at the Riverside this morning the decision was been made to abandon the fixture after persistent heavy rain left excess water on the pitch.

With only next Sunday’s visit of Gloucestershire to come, Durham remain three points behind leaders Hampshire, who beat them in a rain-affected floodlit match at the Rose Bowl last Monday.

More rain in the north east prevented play between Durham and Lancashire in the NatWest Pro40 game

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Durham’s five scheduled days of cricket against Lancashire were reduced to two half days at the start of their LV County Championship clash on Wednesday and Thursday.

Both clubs recently had a four-day match totally washed out, and while Durham have competed strongly in every competition this season the weather is not helping them.

They were beaten semi-finalists in the Friends Provident Trophy and the Twenty20 Cup, while three successive away wins had put them in the running for the Pro40 title.

Coach Geoff Cook said: “It’s very frustrating, but these things are sent to try us. We still have three games left in the championship, starting at Taunton on Tuesday, when we will have Steve Harmison back.

“He brings a different dimension to the team and it means we can even afford to leave out Graham Onions. If we win we will be top of the table.”