though one match was more than halfway completed before it, too, felt victim to the weather.

Southampton Rangers captain Janeiro Tucker smashed 121 not out against PHC at Southampton Oval inbetween two rain stoppages. But the players went off the field for a third time, never to return, at 5.40 p.m. before lone umpire Stephen Douglas declared the wicket too wet to resume at 6.28 after water had seeped under the covers.

"It wouldn't have dried in time to get 25 overs in to constitute a match,'' explained Douglas, moments after the covers were removed and the wicket was shown to be wet in several spots.

When the rain came, PHC were on 59-1 after 11.4 overs in reply to Southampton's 219-2 in an innings that was reduced to 38 overs after the 1.20 start and then two stoppages.

Sheridan Ming, who hit spinner David Saltus for a six and a four in the four balls he bowled in his first over before the rain, finished with 20 not out while Allan Wilkinson scored an unbeaten 24 as PHC made a determined fightback after the early loss of Arthur Richards. Garry Williams took the only wicket for Rangers, giving up 16 runs off six overs.

PHC had no hesitation in sending Rangers in to bat upon winning the toss, and it looked a good decision when Wilkinson, sharing the new ball with Shoron Hunt, struck in his first and second overs to have the home team in early trouble at 19-2.

First, Wilkinson bowled Keith Wainwright for five when the score was eight and then he had Roland Rhones caught behind by wicketkeeper Antoine Greene for four.

An unbroken 200-run partnership for the third wicket between opener Olin Jones and number four bat Tucker in 34 overs put Rangers back firmly in control as Tucker blasted 13 fours and six sixes for his century which beat the 96 he scored against PHC last month in the league.

Jones hit five fours in his 65 not out. Wilkinson claimed the two wickets for 36 runs from nine overs to lead the PHC bowling.

Not a single ball was bowled in the other three matches. Somerset were at home to Cleveland, St. George's and Western Stars were to meet at Wellington Oval and Bailey's Bay and Social Club were scheduled for Sea Breeze Oval.

The BCBC will now attempt to find an alternative date in an already packed month of August to reschedule the matches. The semi-finals are slated for September 3.

There was also no play possible in the first round of the Junior Eastern Counties match at St. David's between the home team and Cleveland. That match will now take place on Thursday.