Saturated outfield delays pitch inspectors

Heavy overnight rain, coupled with morning thunderstorms left the County Ground at Southampton saturated. Umpires Trevor Jesty and John Holder called play off for the day at around two o'clock.

The rain frustrated the pitch inspectors who had come down, after the umpires had reported the wicket following 16 dismissals on the first day. A statutory requirement.

Mike Denness watched much of the play on the second day, but was concerned enough to call Raman Subba Row and Chris Woods down. The trio will now stay overnight and hope that with a better forecast, they can observe the wicket on the fourth day.

The deduction of points could be the end result, but will not effect the home teams position in the final table. They have already been relegated into the County Championship second division.

It would be sad however that this famous old ground should have a detrimental remark on the very last day of first-class cricket there. Hampshire move to a new state of the art ground on the outskirts of the city, next April.

The match is delicately poised, with Yorkshire leading by 173 runs, with four second innings wickets in hand.