Progress halted by rain

McGladdery hits half-century before rain stops play

Rainhill 200-5 (Tyler McGladdery 59, David Atkinson 37; Chris Firth 2-39)

Southport and Birkdale 26-1 (JJ Fielding 13*, Jack Carney 8*, Liam O'Toole 1-18)

No decision: Rainhill 5 pts, Southport and Birkdale 5pts Scorecard

Tyler McGladdery hit his fifth half-century of the season before weather intervened to bring a premature end to a gripping contest with Southport and Birkdale.

Put into bat by the hosts, Rainhill got out of the blocks quickly at the County Ground, with openers Mike Rotheram and Tyler McGladdery putting on 37 for the first wicket. Chris Firth made the breakthrough for Southport and Birkdale when Rotheram was caught by Jack Carney for 13. Sam Kershaw and McGladdery then came together and, perhaps mindful of the weather forecast, sought to score rapidly. They took the score on to 86 before Kershaw was caught by David Snellgrove off the bowling of Chris Cunningham. His contribution of 35 had come from 41 balls.

David Atkinson was next in and he adopted a similar approach. Shortly after reaching his 50, McGladdery's entertaining innings was over when he played a Basil Sultan delivery to Isaac Lea. His knock of 59 had been made from 69 balls and included ten boundaries. Atkinson's fiery performance was ended by Bobby Wincer after he had hit 37 from 36 balls. Ross Higham added a quickfire 23 before becoming Chris Firth's second victim of the afternoon, after which Ben Edmundson (19 not out) and Rob McKeown (9 not out) took the score to 200 for 5.

The declaration was made in light of a forecast for severe rain and, unfortunately, it didn't take too long to materialise. Liam O'Toole struck early to remove Isaac Lea for 1 but, with the score on 26 for 1, the umpires abandoned play due to the deluge. With no further play possible both teams had to make do with five points each - an outcome that, for different reasons, will have pleased neither.

Umpires: Steve Edwards, Ian Laurence

Scorers: Colin Warhurst, David Crossley

Match ball sponsor: Black Swan Tax Advisors