Northamptonshire head coach Darren Lehmann has condemned the conditions during his side’s draw with Derbyshire as one of the worst advertisements for county cricket.
Northants were stranded on 326 for six, needing 23 runs with four wickets remaining, when bad light and drizzle forced play to stop on day four.
The players were removed from the field at approximately 16:20 BST on Friday and never returned.
Lewis McManus and George Bartlett appeared frustrated after being informed by the umpires that the match could not continue.
The result leaves Northamptonshire four points adrift of Kent, who occupy the second and final promotion place in Division Two.
Northants travel to Lord’s to face Middlesex on Thursday, while Kent host bottom-placed Gloucestershire.
“It was one of the greatest advertisements for the four-day game. The pitch was unbelievable,” Lehmann told BBC Radio Northampton.
“Conversely, it was one of the worst advertisements for county cricket.”
“I’ve got to be careful with what I say, but there were ten spectators on the boundary and Shoaib Akhtar wasn’t bowling.”
“If Shoaib Akhtar was bowling, I could probably see a little bit of merit in it, but that’s the decision the umpires have to make and we just have to live with it.”
“We move on to Lord’s four points behind, but we have to win there anyway. It doesn’t change too much.”
“I know it’s disappointing for the players.”
“I’m more disappointed for the fans, the media, and the viewers because that would have been a great finish. For the game of cricket, that’s what misses out.”
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