Glamorgan frustrated on day of wash-outs

Rain washed out virtually the entire third day's play in the last round of English County Championship matches yesterday. Seven of the eight games were abandoned for the day without a ball bowled.

Rain washed out virtually the entire third day's play in the last round of English County Championship matches yesterday. Seven of the eight games were abandoned for the day without a ball bowled.

The only play possible was at Cardiff, where Glamorgan's push for promotion from the Second Division suffered a blow when all but 12.4 overs were lost in the match against Middlesex.

Glamorgan's promotion hopes would have been much improved if their wicketkeeper, Mark Wallace, had held the chance offered by the Middlesex captain, Justin Langer, in the fourth full over of the day. Langer and Mark Ramprakash took Middlesex to 101 for 4 off 28 overs before the rain returned.

Middlesex had resumed on 38 for 3, and with the fifth ball of his uncompleted over - his third of the day - Owen Parkin claimed his fourth victim when he trapped Owais Shah leg before as he pushed down the wrong line.

Parkin should have had Langer's wicket four overs later as the batsman attempted to pull a short ball but bottom-edged a straightforward catch to Wallace. The teenager snatched at the ball, and although he got both hands to it he could not hold on.

Ramprakash also looked relieved to survive a confident leg before shout by Darren Thomas when on 25 and he had moved on to 40 when play ended.