County Championship round five disrupted by rain

No play was possible in six of the eight matches on day three in the fifth round, with a number of matches now heading for a draw

Championship Digest: Saturday, May 8, 2021

Gloucestershire dodge the weather to beat Middlesex

County Championship round five was heavily disrupted after no play was possible on day three in six of the eight matches due to a deluge of rain across the country.

Not a single delivery was sent down at Grace Road, Edgbaston, Emirates Old Trafford, Wantage Road, Trent Bridge or Headingley.

Only at Lord's, where Gloucestershire beat Middlesex by seven wickets and The Ageas Bowl where only 9.3 overs were possible before bad light stopped play between Hampshire are hosting Somerset, was play permitted.

Overnight and early morning rain meant play between Yorkshire and Kent was called shortly after 11am following an inspection by umpires Peter Hartley and Richard Kettleborough. 

Lancashire and Glamorgan's much-disrupted clash suffered further delay after the day was curtailed during the lunch interval.

"The forecast was that bad that we all came anticipating what has happened," said Lancashire coach Mark Chilton.

"Points are the primary aim with the draw the probable result and with no chance of us winning the game. 

"For us it is about getting as many points as we can and the forecast looks a bit better tomorrow so we're hopeful of a full day's play. 

"It will be about laying a strong foundation in that first hour and then looking to maximise our batting points from the rest of the game."

A draw also looks likely in the clash between Leicestershire and Surrey and Warwickshire and Worcestershire, with both matches still in the second innings.

Meanwhile, Nottinghamshire will hope the weather holds as they attempt to beat Essex after losing a whole day of play. The reigning champions trail by 95 runs with seven second-innings wickets remaining.

And Sussex face having to bat out the day in their second innings against Northamptonshire, trailing by 181 runs with six second-innings wickets remaining.

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