Frustration on opening day at Blackpool with 28 balls in six hours

Essex 12 for 1 vs Lancashire

The first day of Lancashire’s match with second-placed Essex within the LV= Insurance County Championship match at Blackpool was badly affected by the climate with simply 28 balls potential through which time Essex made 12 for one.

Both groups got here into the fixture with enforced adjustments, Essex opener Feroze Khushi having sustained a sore hand final week within the Vitality Blast whereas Lancashire rested Daryl Mitchell to assist the abroad all-rounder handle a groin challenge.

The day was break up into two quick tranches of play that book-ended this uncommon day.

After a misleadingly sunny morning, Essex gained the toss and elected to bat underneath more and more gloomy skies, a temper most likely shared by Nick Browne after he edged the fourth supply of the day from Tom Bailey to Colin de Grandhomme at third slip with no run on the board.

In the 25 balls bowled within the morning there was time for Alastair Cook to punch a 4 off the again foot from Will Williams and Essex skipper Tom Westley to look Bailey to high quality leg for 4 off the primary ball of the fifth over.

At that time the rain arrived to take the gamers from the sector for greater than six hours, and it was a testomony to the Blackpool membership that their outfield, re-laid three years in the past, coped admirably with the deluge that fell through the day.

That allowed umpires Peter Hartley and Steve O’Shaughnessy to restart play at 5.30pm following a number of inspections, however solely three balls had been bowled in Bailey’s interrupted over earlier than unhealthy mild halted play as soon as once more, with extra rain minutes later ending a really irritating day.

Cook (4 not out) and Westley (8 not out) will resume the Essex first innings tomorrow.