PHC 16-0

Southampton did not bat

(match abandoned)

Torrential rain enabled Southampton Rangers to easily retain the Western Counties Cup against PHC at Southampton Oval on Saturday.

The eventual abandonment marked the second successive year that PHC's bid to win the cup had been thwarted by rain.

On a day of heavy showers, it was the ground staff who were made to work much harder than the players after the previous night's downpour had seen water seep under the covers.

But in the end all their efforts were undone by more bad weather.

After nearly four hours of frantic work preparing an adjacent crease, the game was able to get underway at 2 p.m. with both Western Counties' officials, opposing captains and the umpires deciding to reduce the match to a 30-over contest.

PHC, having lost the toss, were sent in to bat and after three overs were 16 without loss before more rain sent the teams scurrying back to the pavilion.

Sheridan (Baldy) Ming was unbeaten on 10 and Kevin Dill unbeaten on four.

With the weather worsening, officials decided to call off the match at 3.30 p.m. when it was determined that additional time lost to the rain would have reduced the match below the required minimum of 25 overs needed to constitute a match.

Rangers will now meet Somerset Bridge in the final on August 24 at the same venue.