Surrey 15 for 0 path Lancashire 202 (Bohannon 84, Metal 5-25, Lawrence 4-91) by 187 runs

The Vitality County Championship match between Lancashire and Surrey seems to be sure in a draw after solely 21 balls have been bowled on the third day of the sport at Emirates Previous Trafford.

Surrey had progressed to fifteen with out loss of their first innings when rain pressured an early lunch to be taken at 1.10 p.m. In the course of the interval, the complete sq. and bowlers’ run-ups have been coated in anticipation of heavy showers, and security considerations about robust winds prevented the covers’ removing, although no rain was falling when the sport was as a consequence of restart.

Surrey have been understood to be confused by the dearth of motion with the covers. Head coach Gareth Batty walked out to the center throughout this era, clearly irked the defending champions have been unable to construct on Friday’s work after dismissing Lancashire for 202 inside 73 overs. The anticipated rain ultimately arrived at 2.30. Play was ultimately deserted after a 4.00 inspection.

ECB match referee Mike Smith defended the stance from Previous Trafford heads grounds supervisor Matt Service provider that eradicating the covers would have been harmful given the circumstances, which was backed up by the house membership’s security officer.

“After lunch, when it was dry, the pinnacle grounds supervisor, Matt Service provider, stated that it was so windy that it might put the well being and security of his workers in danger to ask his workers to take away the covers,” Smith defined. “We did not need anybody to be harm, both by being lifted within the air or slapped by the flat sheets in that wind.

“Lancashire’s security officer thought that was an inexpensive place however we did say that the flat sheets needs to be eliminated if the wind dropped to a suitable degree. Nonetheless, we did not get to that stage as a result of the rain returned and curtailed the remainder of the day’s play.”

“I have not come throughout such a scenario earlier than. However I perceive that they weren’t going to be utilizing the flat sheets at Edgbaston as a result of Gary Barwell, the pinnacle groundsman, stated he wouldn’t be asking his workers to place the flat sheets on in that wind. And it’s harmful to be manoeuvring very heavy flat sheets in wind like that.”

Ought to climate enable any cricket to happen on the ultimate day, the match is now more likely to change into a battle for first-innings bonus factors as Surrey’s batters construct a reply to Lancashire’s first innings. Dom Sibley is at present six not out and Surrey skipper Rory Burns is unbeaten on 5.