Gloucestershire v Essex Eagles
Vitality Blast
The Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
Match Details:
Umpires: Nick Cook & Peter Hartley
Match Referee: Simon Hinks
Result: Match abandoned due to rain without a ball being bowled
Match Report:
Gloucestershire and Essex were left frustrated as poor Jubilee Bank Holiday weather in Bristol caused their Vitality Blast South Group contest to be abandoned without a ball bowled.
Rain began falling steadily during mid-afternoon and the big covers were pressed into service at the Seat Unique Stadium from 4.30pm, rendering notional any prospect of a full 20-overs-a-side game.
The latest start time for a reduced five-overs-a-side contest was 8.58pm, but umpires Nick Cook and Peter Hartley, who conducted an initial inspection an hour before scheduled start of play, took the decision to call it off at 7.45pm as rain continued to fall steadily.
Both sides have five points from as many games after being denied an opportunity to close the gap on South Group frontrunners Middlesex, Surrey and Somerset. The Eagles next play bottom-of-the-table Kent at Chelmsford on Tuesday 07 June.
