Summary

  • Wet surface meant delayed start and 65-ball game

  • Roy smashes unbeaten 56 as Invincibles set target of 126

  • Narine takes three wickets to leave Rockets reeling

  • Gregory (28) gets Rockets close but leaders lose by nine runs

Live Reporting

Matthew Henry

  1. A Mexican wave has broken out around The Oval...

  2. Heather Knight
    London Spirit captain on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    It has rained about 20 minutes all day. I am surprised there has been very little communication to the crowd about why that is the case. If people don't understand things they are likely to turn away.

  3. It's a good point from Richard.

    If we can't play with a wet outfield for player safety that is more than fair enough. I don't think anyone wants to risk someone's career for a night's entertainment.

    But, having said that, cricket has to find a solution to stop outfields getting so wet. Whether it is more covers, better covers, some form of undersoil technology. A solution needs to be find.

    A lot of the fantastic work that The Hundred has done so far can quickly unravel with events like these.

  4. Get Involved

    #bbccricket

    Richard Wilkinson: Tricky one. Recent Roses match in the County Championship stopped after a Yorkshire fielder slipped and dislocated his knee on a wet outfield. Umpires in a no win situation. If they’re not playing now, what will another half hour standing around do to allow play?

  5. It's fair to say that BBC commentator Charles Dagnall isn't too impressed by what's going on at The Oval...

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  6. They are now putting some matting down behind the boundary that they've just brought in.

    The groundsmen looks utterly miserable and fed up I'll be honest.

  7. Chris Green
    Middlesex all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    I have been part of a game in the Big Bash when we played through torrential rain. We were told there was a lot of people watching and had to play on but it did get to a point when it was dangerous.

    I feel for the crowd. I am just as frustrated. There is no benefit to either team in getting a wash out.

  8. There is an awful lot of standing around at the moment.

    We're relying on the sun doing its work.

  9. Chris Green
    Middlesex all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    The liability falls on the umpires. If it is dangerous then it falls on them. All I can imagine is going on is the umpires are worried about the square and there is the risk of someone slipping. It is not a great look.

  10. Hello.

    The boundary is being brought in a little bit on one side of the ground.

    That may help with one of the issue areas, but I think the two umpires were concerned about some areas closer to the wicket too.

  11. Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    I get the player safety issues but what we have in front of us is players playing cricket in their warm-up shirts not the match shirts.

  12. Chris Green
    Middlesex all-rounder on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    You would think the outfield would be drying reasonably well. The umpires have to think of player safety.

  13. The later inspection means we will have reduced-ball game if we get any play at all.

    We've still got to have the toss after the inspection so I wouldn't expect to see any play before 20:00 BST, maybe even 20:15.

  14. Heather Knight
    London Spirit captain on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    You can understand why the crowd is so frustrated. I know the outfield might be a little bit wet but it has had the opportunity to dry. The players look like they want to play.

  15. There was an absolutely massive boo when the second inspection at 19:45 BST was put on the big screen.

    Welcome to cricket any newbies.

  16. Henry is right when he says this is a problem for cricket.

    Player safety is absolutely paramount, and should always come first, but this happens too often. There are thousands of people that are sat in The Oval and with the sun currently out they won't understand why we are not playing.

    Cricket simply has to find solutions. No other sport is affected as much by the weather.

  17. Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    There is a huge crowd in. This is a problem for cricket.

  18. Heather Knight
    London Spirit captain on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Second dinner anyone?

  19. Inspection at 19:45 BST
    Breaking

    Pop the kettle on - we're in for a long one.

  20. Henry Moeran
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    There are patches of the outfield that have got damp. There has been quite a lot of rain in the last week or so.