The Worcestershire Royals had posted 244/9, thanks to Vikram Solanki's superb 69 off 48 balls.

But with Sussex at 52/2 the rain came and the teams did not enter the field again.

And because less than ten overs had been bowled of the Sussex innings the match was declared a non result. Only three more balls needed to be delivered to reach the ten over mark.

For full report and reaction, see Friday's County Times.

We apologise for the lack of updates after the Worcestershire inningsm, this was due to technical difficulites.



39th over: WICKET These are useful runs late in the order, and could set us up for a thriller.
Ali taks an ugly slog through the line at Wright, who uproots off stump.
There's a messy four as the ball finds its way through everyone, and Gareth Andrew adds another boundary by slapping Wright straight down the grouns.
Worcester Royals 231/8

38th over: Eight off the over - one bizarre slower ball wide from Kirtley and a single to Batty before Kabir Ali launches him to the long on boundary, and steals a single.

37th over: Batty swats a rank long hop from Martin-Jenkins for a huge six, the Royals will want a few more of those to post a challenging total. RMJ reels in the scoring though, only allowing a couple of extra singles off the over.

36th over: Confirming his reputation as one of the best death bowlers in the game, Kirtley returns and only allows singles from the two men in the middle.

35th over: WICKET Batty brings up the 200, a shout of anguish from Martin-Jenkins as the leg glance finds the boundary. A single later RMJ has his reward, rattling Mitchell's middle stump to halt his progress on 53.

34th over: Batty opens up his shoulders and lofts one through the covers for a one bounce four, which just avoided Wright's dive on the rope. He starts to kick on with some scrambled singles.

33rd over: RMJ keeps it very tight for this stage of the game - Mitchell does bring up his half century though, running a swift two to Adams' arm.

32nd over: Yardy keeps it tight allowing a few singles, while Mitchell closes in on his 50.

31st over: More singles as the Royals make steady progess.

30th over: RMJ's return gets off to a bad start, a cute shot from Mitchell brings four, a repeat of the shot draws a single.

29th over: Batty and Mitchell are keeping the scoreboard ticking over nicely, we might see something more explosive in the next few overs.

28th over: Mitchell is batting well, finding the gaps to run lots of singles which could be crucial in the final outcome.

27th over: You get the feeling the Royals are biding thir time before having a thrash in the last ten overs, a collection of singles off that Smith over.

26th over: Mitchell dabs Yardy away behind square, and gets four for it after evading Adams' slide.
A further single each follows.

25th over: WICKET Hick tries to drive Smith on the up and it's a superb catch by Hopkinson in the gully.
New batsman Gareth Batty gets himself off strike by working away a comfortable single - Mitchell does the same to ensure he remains on strike next over.
Worcester Royals 147/6

24th over: Hick takes five from the first two balls of Wright's over and Mitchell clubs one away for one, before Hick follows up with another single.

23rd over: Smith draws an edge from Mitchell which scoots away for four, and next ball is driven to the point boundary. A half hearted lbw shout is turned down, Smith ends the over with successive dots.

22nd over: A single each for Mitchell and Hick - before Mitchell edges to the slips, but it's too high for Yardy and Adams and he grabs a single. Total of five singles off that over, Wright is bowling well.

21st over: Dwayne Smith bowls a loosener which is carved away through the covers by Daryl Mitchell, who follows up with a dab to third man.
Hick then runs a long two as Yardy and Wright give chase.

20th over: Good line and length from Wright yields just three singles from that over, and Sussex are arresting the run rate.

19th over: Just a couple for Hick off Liddle as the Royals take stock.

18th over: WICKETS. But there was an edge this time, Wright claiming the wicket of Moore for 15, with Prior pouching the catch. New batsman Mo Ali dashes three quick runs and Hick follows suit with a single.
Ali is back on strike and has a mow at Wright, only to edge to Prior diving to his left. Very good over for Sussex.
Worcestershire Royals 113/5.

17th over: Just a single to Moore, and off the final ball of the over, a peach from Liddle almost cuts Hick in half - Chris Adams thinks he heard an edge, but his lonesome appeal is given short shrift.

16th over: WICKET. Moore jogs a single from Wright, bringing Solanki back on strike, and attempting to angle Luke Wright away to third man adges to Prior who takes a superb diving one handed catch.
That brings Graeme Hick to the crease - good job there's no-one playing tennis here they would likely be in a bit of danger.
Hick hooks Wright for four to finish the over.

15th over: Liddle keeps it tighter that over, only a couple off it.

14th over: Wright continues to suffer at the hands of Solanki, a drive skips through gully to the boundary, he then settles for a single down the third man. A sharp chance just evades Yardy at gully off Ben Smith, who has gone quietly about his business.

13th over: It's that man again, Solanki lifts Liddle away for two successive fours to long on - Sussex can't until the end of the restrictions.

12th over: RMJ's one over spell from the railway end is abruptly halted as he is replaced by Luke Wright, who is promptly hooked away for four by Solanki.
Wright then goves Solanki some width and the former England one day ace carves him away for four through the covers. That brings up his 50 off 37 balls.
Solanki is going like a steam train - Wright bowls at his pads and the shot beats a dispairing dive.


11th over: Solanki is feasting on a diet of boundaries, a lusty blow brings him his first six over mid off.

10th over: RMJ is back on, from the railway end. He beats one swing of Smith's bat, but next ball he is flicked away for four. Smith drops and runs a quick single, everyone just manages to avoid a melee in the middle.
Solanki finishes off with a hooked four. Expensive stuff from Martin-Jenkins, another 11 off that over and the rate is up at six an over.


9th over: Solanki brings up the 50, carving Liddle away to point for three runs. Left arm seamer Liddle says I've had enough and finds a way through the gate, just evading off stump.Ben Smith jogs a simple single to finish the over.

8th over: Royals captain Solanki is leading the charge during the fielding restrictions, cutting James Kirtley away for four.
He then survives when on 22 he gets a thick inside egde which Matt Prior can only get fingertips to.
Next ball Solanki punishes the drop with a crashing cover drive.

7th over: Liddle pitches it up and Solanki punches a straight drive down the ground for a one bounce four, followed by a clipped single.

6th over: WICKET. Solanki dabs a couple off his legs. But two balls later its the end of Stephen Moore, trying to run a quick single to the covers, Dwayne Smith picks up and throws with one stump to aim at and hits - Moore doesn't break stride as he starts the long walk back to the hutch.
Worcestershire Royals 32/2

5th over: WICKET An early change of bowling brings dividends for the Sharks, Davies gets a leading edge to Chris Liddle's first ball and Mike Yardy takes a superb diving catch at mid-off.
Great start for the youngster, a wicket maiden.

4th over: Kirtley beats the edge a couple of times, but Solanki stills finds room to thrash him away for two fours in the over.

3rd over: Now the excitement starts. 18 runs come from the over as Steve davies opens his shoulders, launching RMJ for six and following that up with a blistering square cut for four.

2nd over: Solanki flays James Kirtley away to third man, but is denied by an excellent piece of fielding and only picks up a single.
Kirtley keeps it tight for the remainder of the over.

1st over: Solanki tickles a single away off the first ball of the innings, but Robin Martin-Jenkins gets a bit of movement with the new white ball to bowl five successive dots.

Sussex Sharks: Carl Hopkinson, Matt Prior, Luke Wright, Chris Adams, Murray Goodwin, Dwayne Smith, Mike Yardy, Robin Martin-Jenkins, Rory Hamilton-Brown, Chris Liddle, James Kirtley.

Worcestershire Royals: Vikram Solanki, Steve Davies, Stephen Moore, Ben Smith, Graeme Hick, Daryl Mitchell, Mo Ali, Gareth Batty, Kabir Ali, Gareth Andrew, Imran Arif.