England vs Australia, 1st T20I at Manchester, , Aug 30 2009 - Match Result

6.04pm It's all over, red rover. That's it I'm afraid. It's still nil-all in this two-match Twenty20 thrash, before the seven-match ODI fest, so it's been an interesting but ultimately frustrating day in Manchester, a great shame for a decent crowd. We'll be back on Tuesday for the second match so, for now, it's goodnight.

6.02pm They're dragging off one of the covers but it's not a pretty sight underneath. Soggy, boggy, and rubbish. And it's raining, which brings a big cheer to the press box, all of whom are sweating over their laptops with deadlines now looming. This is doomed, I'm afraid.

5.55pm The absurdity never ceases. Right, here's what's happening, chaps. The cut-off time is 6.14pm. That's just around the corner, and we have to start again by that time. If we do, England will need 46 from 23.

5.45pm It's stopped raining. Covers are still on, though, but we're some way from starting I'm afraid. At least half-an-hour, I'd say, so who knows what head-scratching Duckworth-Lewis calculation it'll end up being. More news when we get it. Read the bulletin while you're waiting.

Over in Amstelveen Afghanistan need another 63 from about 12 overs, with four wickets remaining, to beat Netherlands. They're surprising and impressing everyone, Afghanistan. More here when I met them in South Africa, and their homepage too.

5.10pm Still raining, and it's steadier than ever. Covers are protecting the run-ups and either side of the pitch, so we're probably in for quite a delay here. Five overs constitutes a match. What a total pain in the derriere this is.

5.01pm And off they go. Good grief this is unbelievably annoying. Covers coming back on. Have a peek at some photos while you wait. Or some feeds. We're going to be revamping our approach to Twitter in the coming months, but here's our existing account if you want to subscribe.

Johnson signals to the crowd - he's obviously had a fair bit of stick this summer, and he's delighted to stick it up them, in the nicest possible sense.

Here's Johnson

Lee's beaming. Trott is, too. Denly is not.

Free hit for Trott

That was a seriously fast ball. Electric from Lee!

So after a pretty long delay, we have players on the pitch. Hurrah and huzzah for that. Denly's making his Twenty20 debut - cracked 67 against Ireland on his ODI debut t'other day. Bopara's at the other end, and it'll be Brett Lee to open the attack. This could be absolutely awesome. He's been cooped up all summer like a caged cheetah. The crowd have made good use of the delay by getting plastered.

"I think the Aussie bowlers have sent down five overs of warm-ups...we could have had a game by now," spits Andrew McGlashan. Over at Amstelveen, Afghanistan have just lost a flurry of wickets chasing 189.

The main cover is being dragged off. It's looking very promising now. Play to resume at 4.55pm. As long as it doesn't rain, of course. Incidentally, I see an Ashes DVD will be published on October 5. They weren't quite to quick to release one for the 2006-07 series...

4.35pm Play at 4.50pm apparently. If it doesn't rain. It'll still be twenty overs, too.

4.30pm Australia are out in the middle doing their thing, but the covers remain steadfastly in place. Shan't be too much longer, though. Incidentally, Middlesex have somehow won a game today - their second in the Championship this season. Back soon.

4.22pm Oh drat. It's spitting and drizzling enough for the main cover to be dragged back over the pitch. Horrid day. Dark, cold, wet and frankly miserable, but I'm sure it's not terminal. This kind of spitting, indeterminate, rubbish rain is fine to play in.

4.15pm Ah. Well, we're going to have a delay. Play to resume at 4.30pm as they haven't had time to roll the pitch. So, fingers crossed it won't rain in the meantime. Time, therefore, for a cuppa.

4.05pm We've had a distinctly moist shower hurrying across the ground, but it ought not to delay us too much. We only need five overs to make a match of it, apparently, but as I write the covers are beginning to come off. So we shan't be too long. Very murky out there, mind - Autumn's unofficially arrived early. Talking of which, it's going to be properly autumnal later in the week - even in the sun-spot of London. But anyway. Meanwhile, Afghanistan are going nicely in their chase of 189 to beat Netherlands. Live commentary from Amstelveen.

Good efforts from Australia in the end. Only six fours and three sixes on a pitch much quicker than I think Australia were expecting. White played well, and Clarke showed the value of running like a whippet - so, it's hard to say who's on top at this stage. The rain's coming down, sadly, but hopefully we'll back in about 10 minutes for England's chase

Apparently some of you are experiencing problems with our scorecard, reverting back to previous overs etc. We're on it...