And I guess it does even out the narrow defeat to Essex. That could have so easily been a home win, if we'd just managed to get rid of Foster or (earlier) Zaidi. (I know the Middlesex win and Glous defeat also went to the final over - how rare is that, four out of four?! - but neither of those two were exactly tight).
Luke Wright has said Sussex will appeal for them to be awarded the two points, rather than have them shared. To be honest, I wouldn't be completely surprised if he was successful (and what another thing to hit us this season!). I walked through the whole 15-ish minutes of the rain and hail, including before it started, whilst walking up to the ground. It came out of nowhere, it was very heavy. But rain was forecast. It was always forecast. Why on earth the groundsmen didn't cover the whole of the strip beforehand, I have no idea. Safety first. If the rain never ultimately came, then no harm done. The outfield appeared to have drained in no time at all, but one end of the wicket together with one of the wickets a couple down, was soaked in water.
I live less than 3 miles to the West of the ground and can see the floodlights and we had no rain whatsoever, wasn't aware that it had rained at the Ground!
I was there as well, seemed really daft leaving the ground at six thirty in glorious sunshine with game abandoned
Just shows how much damage that (very heavy!) shower did to the wicket and the square in such a short space of time. You'd almost have rather it had poured it down for five hours straight. On the one hand is really was a total freak (and seemingly very isolated) hail shower. But on the other hand, as I say, the forecast was awful all week and we were the ones who didn't keep the wicket and square covered. A 15 minute shower should never be enough to abandon a whole game, really.
I can't see how the ECB can award Sussex 2 points though. It was a freak shower and there was little chance of rain from the forecast I saw.
It doesn't help though when the groundsman has admitted to Wright that he got it wrong. The very least that Sussex deserve is an investigation by the ECB. If the ECB then clear us of any fault, then fine, everyone move on. But I would be mightily miffed if I were in the Sussex camp, and the ECB did nothing at all.
The ECB have cleared us. Turning to today, that is probably our best looking t20 side of the season - albeit it is, naturally, still very weak on the bowling front. Just a shame that is happens in a match where we come up against Gayle, who of course is capable of winning any match by himself. I think Andrew is slightly unfortunate to be the one from the quartet of himself, Best, Berg and Smith to be dropped, given that he is in some form with the bat. A ground like Taunton, I think I'd have picked him ahead of Smith. Not sure you want to bowl Smith too much at Taunton, and he's not really in the team for his batting.
I'd prefer Smith bowling than Andrew. I know Smith hasn't been great this season but Andrew has been very expensive in the One Day cup.
