The third and final one-dayer of the series between Enland and West Indies was abandoned without a ball being bowled at Headingley.
No let up in the rain in Leeds as third England ODI is abandoned
England's third NatWest one-day international against West Indies was abandoned without a ball being bowled after rain continued to fall at Headingley.
With the gloomy conditions showing no sign of relenting an early lunch was called for 12.30pm with the umpires out to inspect a sodden surface afterwards.
Hopes of any play were increasingly looking unlikely, however, with the groundsman unable to prevent puddles appearing on the playing arena despite their continued efforts since early morning.
Rain had fallen all the day before too and, with a 4.30pm cut-off for the minimum requirement of a 20-over game, a decision to call the match off came even sooner.
Brief inspection
Umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Richard Illingworth made the decision to call off the game following a brief inspection at 1.00pm after the rain had left the playing surface sodden.
England had already wrapped up the series 2-0 with the sides due to meet in a one-off Twenty20 international at Trent Bridge on Sunday.
With the series already in the bag, England had rested key names Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan for the match.
The abandonment will come as bad news for Yorkshire County Cricket Club, who have announced losses for the past two years, with ticket holders due a full refund.
The county, which recorded a loss of £460,000 last year after being £1.8million in the red in 2010, are, however, due to host the second Test against South Africa in August.
