SUFFOLK have been thwarted in the attempt to beat Lincolnshire at Grantham when the first day of their three-day final Minor Counties Championship match was rained off yesterday.

By Elvin King

SUFFOLK have been thwarted in the attempt to beat Lincolnshire at Grantham when the first day of their three-day final Minor Counties Championship match was rained off yesterday.

They will try again today with Suffolk having been inserted after Lincolnshire won the toss.

There was no play before lunch, but with the rain having stopped a start was scheduled for 2.30pm.

With the umpires about to take the field, and the players changed a heavy downpour arrived forcing the covers back on. It continued to rain and a halt for the day was called at 4.30pm.

Suffolk will find it hard now to accrue the maximum 24 points they are seeking to stand a chance of overtaking Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, who are above them in the table.

Conversely Norfolk's game at Staffordshire and Cambridgeshire's at Cumberland could also produce lowered points because of the weather.

Suffolk go into their final game 11 points behind Norfolk and five behind Cambs.

Suffolk are fielding an unchanged side from the one that beat Buckinghamshire in their previous match.