Storms halt Aussie progress

The fickle English weather has bared its teeth for the first time this summer, with storms forcing the abandonment of the Natwest Triangular series one-day match between England and Australia overnight at Edgbaston.

After Australia scrambled up to 9-261 in the afternoon session, thunderstorms forced the teams off three overs into England’s innings, with the home side at 0-8. Following a tedious102-minute delay, play resumed for a further three overs before more rain brought a halt to proceedings with England 1-37, chasing the revised target of 200 from 33 overs.

The washout means the tourists cannot overtake England on the Triangular series ladder ahead the Lord’s final, while neither side was able to gain an-all important psychological edge before hostilities resume on Saturday.

Andrew Symonds continued his rich vein of form with a typically hard-hitting 74 off 75 balls, and his 101-run partnership with Mike Hussey (45 from 42) was the centerpiece of the Australian innings.

Earlier in the day, the Australians began brightly, racing to 0-34 after five overs, before Simon Jones enticed an edge from Adam Gilchrist and the wicketkeeper was back in the pavilion for 19 (off 18).

Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting came together and they each got starts but once again, failed to go on with it, leaving Australia in some trouble at 3-95 from 21 overs.

The run rate slowed as Damien Martyn and Symonds attempted to resurrect the innings, with Martyn particularly scratchy as he struggled to find the gaps in the English field. When he finally tried to step up the pace against Steven Harmison in the 27th over, he could only find Kevin Pietersen at third man, who took a great catch low down, though replays showed the ball may have touched the ground.

Symonds started to find the ropes and together with Hussey, they restored the situation and pushed the run rate above 5 an over, before the all-rounder’s dismissal triggered a late collapse of 5-41 off the last eight overs. That left Australia at 261 from their full allotment; a competitive total, though 20 short of what they would have been expecting.

For England, Darren Gough took three expensive wickets, while Harmison and Jones both chipped in with two a piece.

The home side’s reply got off to a solid start, then upon the resumption from rain, Andrew Strauss took to Glenn McGrath’s gentle medium pace, smashing him for four boundaries, which had the Australian bowler shaking his head.

McGrath had his revenge however, as Strauss (25 off 18) spooned a catch to Gillespie at mid-on, just as further wet weather forced the players off the ground; on this occasion, for the last time.

Full scorecard available here.

•  Have a view on this story? Send us your feedback!