Only 11 overs possible at Scarborough

Surrey were unable to resume their second innings at Scarborough until 3.30 this afternoon, despite hours of bright sunshine, because heavy overnight rain had caused water to seep under the plastic sheeting which was covering the run-up at the pavilion end.

Yorkshire expressed concern that conditions were dangerous for their fast bowlers and the umpires warned they would abandon play for the day if there were any problems but none materialised.

When Surrey did get going on their overnight 53 for two, with an overall lead of 251, captain Adam Hollioake soon pulled a ball from Chris Silverwood straight into the hands of Vic Craven on the square leg boundary. Alistair Brown then remained until tea with Mark Butcher who was unbeaten on 49 at the interval with Surrey 89 for three and the weather closing in. A thunderstorm then wiped out play for the day with a total of only 11 overs having been bowled.

Docked eight points on Thursday night by the ECB Pitches Panel because of the 'poor' condition of the Scarborough pitch, Yorkshire yesterday decided not to lodge an appeal against the decision.

But Yorkshire cricket committee representative Geoff Cope said that club chairman Keith Moss would raise the whole matter of the inconsistency of pitch liaison officers through the season at a general committee meeting of the club with a view to making representations to the ECB at the end of the season.