Bowl-out looms in Headingley semi-final

The C&G Trophy semi-final between Yorkshire and Surrey is heading for a bowl-out. Torrential overnight rain has further saturated an already sodden Headingley, and even a 10 overs-a-side match between the two sides looks unlikely.

With heavy rain sweeping the north of the country, chances of play at Headingley are diminishing. Severe flood warnings have been issued, while services from Leeds railway station were disrupted by the deluge, as a month's worth of rain has now fallen in 12 hours in some parts of Yorkshire.

Negotiations to move the game to a neutral venue are continuing. Yorkshire yesterday objected a move to Taunton, because they have to be back at Headingley on Saturday. The only viable option is a dry club ground in West Yorkshire, which will not be easy to find.

Cricket's equivalent of the penalty shoot-out follows the same principles. Five bowlers from each side bowl two deliveries at a set of stumps. If the total number of hits remains level, the bowl-out goes to sudden death.

With reserve days now allocated, bowl-outs are rendered almost obsolete, even in England.

Yorkshire skipper Darren Lehmann is not looking forward to the prospect. "We'd like to settle it on the field if that's possible. You don't want players getting hurt on the outfield or anything like that, but at the same time I'm sure both sides would prefer to play a game of cricket to having a bowl-out."

Meanwhile, Adam Hollioake and the Surrey team have been working on tactics. "None of the bowlers seem to fancy it, but the wicketkeeper and batsmen are all putting their hands up. There are tactics to this and it seems to be the short people who don't get much bounce who are the best for it and we have plenty of short people in our team."

"We're absolutely wetting ourselves at the thought of it," Hollioake conceded.