Umpires overrule players' wishes

Round-up

Lancashire lost their chance of making a stronger claim for the Axa Life League title as their game against Gloucestershire at Bristol was washed out yesterday.

After being put in by Gloucestershire, third-placed Lancashire made 41 for 3 in 10 overs before umpires Vanburn Holder and John Harris took them off.

The Gloucestershire captain Mark Alleyne said both teams had been willing to play on but the umpires insisted the rain was too heavy.

In what little play did take place, John Crawley hit two midwicket fours to finish with 16, while Gloucestershire's opening bowlers, Mike Smith and Jon Lewis, finished with identical returns of 1 for 13 off their four overs.

Torrential rain also washed out any hope of Nottinghamshire game against Essex taking place at Trent Bridge. It was a particular blow to Essex, who still have a fighting chance of winning the Sunday title but needed a victory to stay in the hunt.

World champions Sri Lanka swept the one-day international series against India with a nine-run win in the third and final game at Colombo yesterday. After Saturday's game was abandoned with only six overs remaining they secured victory in the replay after restricting India to 255 for 8 in their allotted 50 overs.

Earlier, Sri Lanka compiled a total of 264 all out in 49.4 overs, thanks mainly to a superb 104 from man of the match Aravinda de Silva.

"Nothing seemed to go right for us," the Indian captain, Sachin Tendulkar, said. "We hope it will not happen in the Sharjah Cup. The Sri Lankan players were excellent and we hope to learn from them."

India had been in the driving seat early on in the game after a seemingly disappointing total from Sri Lanka. The momentum changed with the run out of former skipper Mohammad Azharuddin for 65.