Alastair Cook - 8
Improved his Test-best score to 160 with a determined effort in England's innings, although he may even be disappointed not to have pressed on for a double hundred when it looked there for the taking against a flagging Windies attack.

Ravi Bopara - 8
Deservedly took the England Man-of-the-Series award after a third successive century. Having taken to the number three position like a duck to water, the Essex batsman looks in pole position to retain the spot for the Ashes.

Kevin Pietersen - 6
Playing in his usual aggressive style, he missed out on a half century when looking to reach the landmark with a flourish.

Paul Collingwood - 7
Having hit 60 not out in England's innings, showed his versatility with some smart work behind the stumps on the last two days after Prior damaged a finger.

Matt Prior - 7
Another impressive performance with the bat when England needed to force the pace, although the odd question invariably remains about his keeping. Did not take the field after he injured a finger shortly before tea on day four.

Stuart Broad - 7
After boosting his all-round credentials with some quick runs before the declaration, took the important wickets of Sarwan and Chanderpaul in the Windies' first innings in an intelligent spell, though was barely used in the second innings.

Tim Bresnan - 6
Not required to bat and wicketless in the first innings, the Yorkshire all-rounder was finally able to contribute with three wickets on the final morning as the tail folded, but his place looks most vulnerable for the Ashes if the selectors recall a fit-again Flintoff or opt for a second spinner in Monty Panesar.

Graeme Swann - 6
Just the one wicket (his "bunny" Devon Smith) in conditions not suited to spin bowling, but acquitted himself well and remains a popular member of the side.

James Anderson - 9
Took on the mantle of the leader of England's attack in Flintoff's absence and responded magnificently with nine wickets that earned him the Man-of-the-Match award. Enjoyed his duels with Fidel Edwards and also continues to add to his reputation as a solid night-watchman and fielder.

Graham Onions - 7
Bowling with plenty of heart on his home ground, the Durham seamer made a crucial double breakthrough on the fourth day when he removed Sarwan and Gayle - and has probably done enough to keep his place in the squad for the first Ashes Test.

Scott Borthwick & Karl Turner - 7
Move over Gary Pratt! The Durham youngsters both showed a safe pair of hands in the field when called upon as substitute fielders, and can be proud of their part in a memorable innings victory.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would witness a Test match being abandoned after just 10 deliveries, but that is what happened at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, a turn of events which left a bitter taste in many mouths here in Antigua, not just mine.

My parting comment before I left the office was: "Feel free to call me if a sensational story breaks while I'm out there." Next time, I'll have to choose my words more carefully!

Cricket crowds are, traditionally, more patient than those in many other sports - yet after eight balls of play, a rain delay and then just two more deliveries, fans around me showed clear frustration when Fidel Edwards ran in for the third or fourth time without delivering the ball, pointing to a problem with his run-up.

"Get on with it, Fidel", came the cries from those who did not realise what was about to occur.

The frustration around me in the South Stand grew as the umpires, captains and match referee consulted. Music continued to belt out from the Party Stand, while some of its inhabitants took a dip in the pitchside pool - but despite the Caribbean sunshine, those of us up in the stands were very firmly "in the dark" as a slow handclap began.

Friday's local papers here had warned of the possible problems with the outfield - and it eventually became clear that the game was up when the players walked off. I saw one fan buttonhole Andrew Strauss as he walked up to the players' balcony, asking what was happening - while Nasser Hussain and a Sky cameraman were waiting to pounce on the officials as soon as their deliberations were concluded.

Still, however, the public address system remained silent and I actually learned that the game had been abandoned via a text message from a friend in London! It was more than half an hour after play was halted that a garbled announcement was made to the paying spectators.

One England fan I spoke to compared the wall of silence to that experienced by the Oval crowd at the Test forfeited by Pakistan in 2006, when the fans were similarly kept out of the loop as events unfolded.

As we all trooped disconsolately out of the stadium, "what happens next?" became the topic of conversation. The possibility of a move to the Antigua Recreation Ground or Sir Allen Stanford's ground next to the airport or instead scheduling back-to-back Tests in Barbados were all debated, as was one wild theory which suggested the ARG's bowlers' run-ups would be dug up to a depth of eight inches, then transported to the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium and flattened into the existing run-ups with a heavy roller...

As it turns out, we'll all be off to the ARG on Sunday - although an English couple I spoke to, who had visited the old ground yesterday, felt the outfield there was in no shape for Test cricket either, having been used recently for football - so clearly the ground staff will have their work cut out over the next 24 hours.

After such a fiasco, the repercussions for Antigua could be long-lasting. On the way back to the hotel, our tour bus driver spoke of "shame" and "embarrassment" at how things could go so wrong, considering the huge financial importance of a home Test against England to the local economy. We also listened to a local radio phone-in, with some angry Antiguans demanding that the island's cricket officials should resign en masse.

Intriguingly, Antigua is currently awash with election fever, with flags, bunting and posters of the various candidates adorning every lamp-post, telegraph pole and street corner, and some of the locals I spoke to felt the events of this particular Friday the 13th could yet become an election issue.

So, two things have become clear - firstly, if the West Indies Cricket Board thought they had put the logistical problems of the last World Cup aside, they may have to think again.

And secondly, as a journalist, I've learned that you're never really on holiday...

Less than two months ago, the county admitted there was unrest among their members after a poor start to the season in the County Championship - and a vote of no confidence in the committee was looming.

But since then, they have shaken off the loss of their captain Ed Smith to an ankle injury as an unheralded, youthful side raced to the top of their Twenty20 Cup group table - and went on to collect their first major trophy since winning the Championship in 1993, with the promise of the Twenty20 Champions League to come.

But for many of those players, their best years were behind them by 1993 - and the days when fans of opposing counties would anxiously scan the fixtures in the hope of playing Middlesex during a Test match (when the likes of Gatting, Emburey, Phil Edmonds and Paul Downton would invariably be on England duty) were over.

Fast-forward to the XI on duty on Saturday, and Owais Shah, Shaun Udal and Murali Kartik can boast just 14 Test caps between them - although they were missing the centrally-contracted Andrew Strauss, while captain Smith and seamer Chris Silverwood (although not a regular in one-day cricket in recent seasons) have also played Test cricket but are injured.

But stand-in skipper Ed Joyce showed his mettle by leading the Crusaders to a comfortable semi-final victory over a fancied Durham side including Paul Collingwood, Steve Harmison, Shaun Pollock, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Phil Mustard - before seeing off defending champions Kent in a thrilling final.

While ex-Hampshire veteran Udal excelled with two miserly spells of off-spin on his former home ground, it was Shah - who has won just two Test caps despite being a regular presence in the England one-day side - and South African all-rounder Tyron Henderson, a "Kolpak" signing with the briefest of brief international careers, who starred when the going got tough.

Henderson's international experience extends to just one Twenty20 international for the Proteas against India, when he made a duck and took 0-31 from four overs.

But his role with bat and ball was crucial on Saturday as after blasting both the Durham and Kent bowling attacks into submission, he was thrown the ball for the final over. With 16 needed (15 if they lost fewer than six wickets) and his fellow countryman Justin Kemp clearing the ropes at will, Henderson held his nerve as a thrilling last over ensued.

Kemp hit Henderson's first two deliveries for two and four - but after the batsmen had run another two from the third ball, a wild throw from the deep by youngster Dawid Malan - allowed Kent an all-run four, of the sort one would be embarrassed to concede in club cricket, let alone a Twenty20 final.

Although Kemp managed another two off the fourth ball, leaving Kent four (effectively three) to win from the last two deliveries, Henderson fired in a couple of priceless yorkers which Kemp was unable to work away, handing Middlesex their ticket to Antigua for a lucrative match against England in October. Joyce, who faces a potential fixture clash of another kind as he is due to get married in mid-October, admitted afterwards that the England game would be "fun", but looked like he and his side would just be happy to be involved.

Indeed, Middlesex's status as a team not packed with superstars has worked in their favour, because as one of only three counties without any players from the "rebel" Indian Cricket League on their staff, reaching the Twenty20 final has earned them a place at the top table for the Champions League later this year - with the organisers still insisting any teams with ICL players would not be invited. Beaten finalists Kent, fielding two ICL players in Kemp and Azhar Mahmood, face an anxious wait to see if the matter is resolved.

While no-one is predicting an instant return to the standard of the all-conquering 1980s side, Middlesex will be relieved to have shaken off that 15-year wait for silverware - while the experience of finals day will be crucial for promising youngsters like Malan and teenager Billy Godleman.

The long-suffering Middlesex fans, many of whom had made the trip south to the Rose Bowl, will treasure their memories of their day in the sun in Southampton.

And what of the members' unrest? With impressive timing, the special general meeting recently called was cancelled last week after the motion of no confidence in the committee was withdrawn. So things may be finally looking up at Lord's.

With riches now on offer from the Indian franchise leagues, the Champions League and (more importantly for the England-qualified players) Sir Allen Stanford, 2008's showpiece day at Hampshire's Rose Bowl ground on Saturday had more of the look of an extended audition.

On a day when county mascots participated in a "dance-off" as well as the usual race, the innings of the day came from Middlesex's Owais Shah, a regular in the England one-day side, whose stunning 75 in the final overshadowed two brutal knocks by team-mate Tyron Henderson, a non-English-qualified "Kolpak" player - while there were still plenty of homegrown cricketers keen to prove their credentials in the shortest form of the game.

Having added 58 together in their semi-final, Denly and Key went even further in the final, putting on 89 to give the defending champions a platform to challenge Middlesex's total.

Shah had been content to play a supporting role to Henderson in the second semi-final, but cut loose himself after Henderson fell for 44 in the final, smashing five sixes including three in succession off James Tredwell - helping Middlesex claim the highest ever score in a Twenty20 Cup final.

But a thrilling final was just reward for the loyalty of the Rose Bowl crowd. The ground took a while to fill up during the first semi-final - although having only qualified for finals day at four days' notice, you can hardly blame the Durham fans if the long journey brought them to the south coast in time for their team's game rather than the start of the day.

However, there was hardly a spare seat to be had for either the second semi or the final - and the majority of the defeated semi-finalists' supporters appeared to have stayed for the final. Someone who was certainly there for the whole day was Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe - who watched the last couple of overs of the final from the Kent dug-out!

On one of the hottest days of the year, the three games were played in an electric but friendly atmosphere which contrasted sharply with that on Headingley's Western Terrace during last week's Test match. Shah's big hitting earned him a standing ovation from his own fans, opponents and neutrals alike when he finally departed - as well as earning him a plane ticket to Antigua.

Meanwhile, with the England wicketkeeping position under scrutiny as intense as ever, Essex's James Foster was red-hot behind the stumps, outshining fellow England discard Geraint Jones - national selector Geoff Miller, here to announce the squad for the third Test against South Africa, cannot fail to have been impressed by Foster's glovework.

In typical Twenty20 style, there were also some entertaining cameos throughout the day, and some baseball-style blasts over the ropes, notably from South Africa's Justin Kemp in the final - while Martin van Jaarsveld's batting stance, with the willow held aloft, would not be out of place at Yankee Stadium. Injured Middlesex captain Ed Smith, author of a book on baseball, would have been impressed.

Fielding played an important part, as Kent caught the eye with three run-outs and a couple of smart catches in the first semi-final, including a superb effort from Key to dismiss the dangerous Graham Napier - a huge turning point in the Essex innings.

Napier's six-hitting feats earlier in the competition had seen his name mentioned tentatively in connection with the Stanford game, although there was a sense of anti-climax when he trudged off after scoring just three runs and talk of an England call-up faded somewhat.

Spin is an under-rated commodity in Twenty20, and the wily old warhorse Shaun Udal marked his return to his old ground with a miserly 1-18 from his four overs against Durham and 1-21 against Kent, bowling well in tandem with India's Murali Kartik, while Kent also benefited from a clever spell of containment in their semi-final by off-spinner Tredwell, who toured New Zealand with England earlier this year but carried the drinks for the entire ODI series. However, he lasted just two overs in the final after being savaged at the hands of Shah.

Among the pace bowlers, the newly-recalled Steve Harmison was despatched to the four corners of the Rose Bowl by Henderson, who smashed seven sixes in a blistering 59 not out from 21 balls in the second semi-final. His fellow Durham seamer Liam Plunkett struggled for line and length and on this evidence, an England recall is a long way off. But Tim Murtagh did his chances of crossing the England radar in the future no harm at all, with some accurate seam bowling.

Of the other England probables, possibles and tried-and-discardeds on show, Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara has been a regular in the ODI side for the last year or so - and as if to prove that he is under-bowled by England, picked up three wickets before adding 78 for the first wicket with Mark Pettini. Paul Collingwood, still England's ODI captain despite serving a suspension for poor over-rates, made a run-a-ball 35 before holing out when trying to accelerate against Udal.

Meanwhile, Middlesex captain Ed Joyce (who has the rare feat of an ODI century against Australia at the SCG on his CV, but has seemingly fallen from favour with England) made a fluent 41 in the semi-final, setting the table for Henderson to feast later in the innings. However, he was almost made to rue dropping Kemp at long-off while the powerful South African "Kolpakker" aimed sixes and fours into the night sky.

With a one-day series and a Twenty20 international against South Africa on the cards before the Stanford adventure, it remains to be seen if England again opt for Twenty20 "specialists" in Antigua, after the selection of Darren Maddy, Jeremy Snape, Chris Schofield and James Kirtley did not meet with total success in last year's World Twenty20.

But if entertainment was the aim, the crowd should have gone home happily entertained. And isn't that the idea?

Whether enjoying a summer's day at a picturesque county ground like Dean Park or New Road, waiting with baited breath as a one-day final nears its conclusion at Lord's, or squirming as England get taken to the cleaners by Shane Warne in front of nearly 100,000 at the MCG, sit me down in front of a cricket match on a sunny day and I'm a happy man.

So with the hottest day of the year looming, while many of my BBC colleagues braved the sweltering heat at Wimbledon, I was armed with a camera and lucky enough to get to see cricket in the most bizarre surroundings I've ever seen - the helipad of a cross-Channel ferry, as England's women launched their summer programme of one-day internationals, where they will face the West Indies, South Africa and India.

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I knew this particular ferry trip would be memorable after we were personally escorted onto the ship at Dover by SeaFrance director Bill Laidlaw (I nearly thought they were going to pipe us aboard at one point), although the French crew members looked a little bemused at the array of stumps, boundary ropes and other cricket equipment being brought on board.

Once we reached Calais, it was "all hands on deck" (both literally and metaphorically) as while the other passengers disembarked, everyone was pressed into service to help carry the equipment up to the helipad on the top deck, where the game was set up.

As the first two batters padded up, there was even an umpire, Lorraine Elgar, on hand to ensure fair play. The MCC may have approved Kevin Pietersen's switch-hitting, but I wondered what the guardians of the Laws would make of this. Would each side need to place two fielders in the sea for the first 15 overs, for instance? With the ball bouncing around off a length, Isa Guha even suggested the "one hand one bounce" rule be invoked.

As we snapped away with our cameras, a couple of us tried to dredge up some schoolboy French to explain to the bewildered Gallic seafarers what on earth was happening - although I balked at trying to explain the lbw law - a task which is not the easiest, even in one's own native tongue.

I'm not quite sure how seriously the score was being kept - although coach Mark Lane, fresh from guiding the side to a successful winter in Australia and New Zealand since his appointment, suddenly announced "four to win" just before the last ball was delivered, perhaps cricket was the winner on this occasion.

Credit where credit's due though, the best catch of the day was taken by a member of the media. Not me (as if), but Charmeyne McCollin from All Out Cricket magazine staked her claim for an international call-up by pulling off a stunning one-handed effort from a powerful straight drive which looked to be sailing out to sea as the rest of us took evasive action.

With both players and spectators wilting under the hot sun, we then had to pack up the equipment and vacate the top deck before the ferry could make its return journey and our buffet lunch could be served.

"It's always good to do something different to launch a series," all-rounder Beth Morgan told me afterwards.

"It's an interesting idea to play on a helipad, but it's good for all the girls to get together and have fun as this is one of the busiest summers the squad's ever had."

Busy indeed - the forthcoming two one-dayers against the West Indies were only announced at the end of May, and coupled with the NatWest one-day series against South Africa and India, England will have played 12 ODIs and four Twenty20 internationals by the time their season ends in early September.

Even greater challenges then await - with the Women's World Cup in Australia next March, followed by the Women's World Twenty20 in England in June, and another Ashes defence against Australia later that summer.

But I came away with the impression that this is a confident and ambitious but level-headed squad, and will be keeping an eye out to see how they fare.

And as I drove away from Dover with the sun still shining, I realised they didn't even check my passport - not even once.

You can check out a full photo gallery of the day here.

Having been taken by my father to my first county game aged six (when Gordon Greenidge kindly marked the occasion with a century), I was swiftly hooked - and have spent much of the intervening period waiting for Hampshire to win the County Championship, which they haven't done since before I was born. I've also followed England to Australia and New Zealand as a supporter during the last two winters.

I've worked for the BBC since shortly after leaving university, and after a short spell at BBC Radio Solent, I've spent nearly a decade in London - initially for BBC Ceefax Sport, and subsequently for the BBC Sport website, where I frequently have to turn my hand to just about anything, although our cricket live text commentaries are always a pleasurable task.

I still play cricket for a team called Canford Cygnets, although my love of the game is matched only by my utter ineptness at playing it. Considering I bat like Chris Martin and field like Monty Panesar, I'm lucky still to get a game anywhere.

The inclusion of talisman Andrew Flintoff after ankle surgery was the pre-match talking point - but for once, he did not have to bear his country's hopes on his shoulders alone, as Alastair Cook and Ian Bell both hit centuries.

Flintoff was not even needed to bat as Cook and Bell became the first pair of England batsmen to hit centuries in the same ODI since Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge in June 2005.

Cook and Bell's places in the one-day side had both been questioned by some before the game, especially when both were preferred to the more adventurous Owais Shah at the top of the order.

But Cook more than doubled his previous best ODI score of 41, and reached three figures in the 40th over of the innings - earning a standing ovation, followed by another when he was yorked by RP Singh two overs later.

Bell was a little more carefree than his partner, outscored Cook during their second-wicket stand of 178, reached his century off exactly 100 balls and batted through the rest of the innings to finish with 126.

While other countries continue to concentrate on attack rather than defence in the opening powerplay overs, England's initially pedestrian pace, reminiscent of the World Cup, seemed to be a hangover from the Duncan Fletcher era.

However, the run rate steadily rose, with the occasional boundary to excite the crowd - and if the game plan was to reach the last 20 overs with plenty of wickets in hand, then it worked.

There was a sense of anticipation around Southampton at the interval - albeit tempered with the knowledge of the huge ODI experience of India's batting line-up, well used to chasing targets under lights. Would 288 be enough?

Opening pair Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar came into the match averaging nearly 50 as a partnership, but they managed just 15 as a run-out by the unlikely Monty Panesar saw off Ganguly.

James Anderson then found Gautham Gambhir's outside edge for his 100th ODI wicket - and after an amusing interlude involving a group of girls in bikinis being chased around the stands by stewards, Anderson's 101st and 102nd followed in quick succession as he removed Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh.

Flintoff began the game at second slip, but India were already reeling at 35-4 after 12 overs when he was introduced into the attack, and he was soon charging in at nearly 90mph.

A total of five no-balls from his seven overs was a mild concern, but a great diving stop in his second over showed no sign of any reaction to the ankle problem.

The England line-up contained several players with differing claims to all-rounder status - certainly Collingwood and Dimitri Mascarenhas , while Ravi Bopara's bowling and Stuart Broad's batting may yet earn them that tag in the future.

But Flintoff remains the only England player who fits the strict all-rounder criteria as someone who could earn his place via either batting or bowling alone - and thus is vital to the balance of the side.

The Lancastrian also had Mahendra Dhoni - who had positively crawled by his own high standards to score just 19 off 60 balls, in a torrid stand with Dravid - caught behind to complete a successful comeback.

As well as Anderson's 4-23, coach Peter Moores would also have been encouraged by Mascarenhas (1-28), who bowled tightly in the middle overs on his home ground and was eventually rewarded with the prize wicket of Dravid, his first ODI scalp.

Bopara, one of the finds of the World Cup, also undoubtedly improves England in the field, despite not being required to bat or bowl on this occasion.

India were also capable of self-inflicted wounds, as two more run-outs - including the farcical scenes when Dinesh Karthik and Piyush Chawla ended up at the same end - accelerated their downfall, while many spectators also took the opportunity to beat an early retreat to avoid the traffic.

Make no mistake, it was a great night for England - but can they keep it going?

But even after all those years as part of the all-conquering Australian side, the legendary leg-spinner is not invulnerable - and cut a slightly forlorn figure after captaining Hampshire to a heavy defeat by Durham in the Friends Provident Trophy final at Lord's - his first domestic final.

"It hurts. I think I've played in more winning Test matches than any other player, and I really hate losing," he admitted after Durham's 125-run victory in a game which was stretched into a second day by rain.

"As captain it's a different sort of feeling. You always debrief afterwards, and think over whether you made the right decisions. But I wouldn't have done anything differently."

Warne has marshalled his side to great effect over the last three seasons, guiding his side to second and third-placed finishes in the Championship, while they won the 2005 C&G Trophy in his absence on international duty.

The skipper shuffled his bowlers around at Lord's, but Paul Collingwood and Dale Benkenstein in particular seemed content to see off Warne's own leg-spin - even playing out a maiden in the 40th over of the innings - before attacking the seamers.

"The first seven or eight overs in each innings were where Durham gained the advantage. We had plans in place, but we just didn't execute them.," Warne said.

"You saw from when they bowled that there was enough moisture around when we decided to bowl first, but we didn't get enough balls in the right spot.

"Some of the bowling changes did work, as I brought Sean Ervine on and he got a wicket, I switched James Bruce to the other end and he got Phil Mustard out.

"Benkenstein edged his first ball over the top of the stumps for four, so most things went their way - but that generally happens when you're playing better cricket.

"Durham didn't allow us to play well - they outplayed us, and they thoroughly deserve their victory."

The tall order facing Hampshire's batsmen became even taller when they lost two wickets to the first two balls of the innings, and Durham were already odds-on favourites by the time rain curtailed Saturday's play.

Defiant to the last, Warne still held out hope of an unlikely victory - but their fate was sealed with the early departure of Nic Pothas and Dimitri Mascarenhas, leaving Warne himself batting with the tail in a lost cause - and he was last out as Durham completed their victory.

But however much it may hurt him, the ebullient Warne - who said before the game that he felt it was "only a matter of time" before his side won the County Championship - now focuses his determination on the conclusion to the Championship and Pro40 league campaigns, holding out for two more trophies.

"When you lose a final like this, you can go one of two ways - it can ruin your season and you can fall away, or the fact it is hurting can give you inspiration," he insisted.

"I know what our players are like, and I think this could inspire us to go on and achieve some special things this season as we've still got a lot to play for.

"Lancashire is a massive game for us this week - if we can win it with maximum points, we could go top of the table with a game in hand on Yorkshire."

Warne also insists that whatever happens, he will be back to lead his adopted county next season - "I've got one more year on my contract, and to me a contract is a contract".

However, he seemed bemused by the media attention, particularly in his native land, given to his revelation on Friday that he is investigating to see if he can qualify for a German passport, through his mother, in order to play for Hampshire as a European Union player next season - when counties will only be permitted one, rather than two overseas players.

"I think it's got a little bit out of hand, with front-page stories in Australia," he said.

"Just to clear it up, my mother was German, and moved to Australia when she was four or five. I'm Australian, simple as that, and I always will be, although I've lived in England for four or five years and been a resident of the UK.

"But the way the EU system and the rules are, we're looking into it to see if there's any possibility that I could have a dual passport and play as a local player, as a lot of Australians have - that's not doing anything against the laws.

"My name is Shane Warne - I'm not going to be Adolf Warne or anything like that."

If Warne's determination to win the Ashes back for his country last winter after losing them in 2005 is anything to go by, do not write off his chances of lifting a trophy this season just yet.

But as one journalist put it - which drew a frosty response from the Australian - just don't mention the Waugh twins.

Dale Benkenstein's team were clearly in the driving seat against Hampshire in the Friends Provident Trophy final at Lord's, with Hants reeling at 158-5 in response to the north-easterners' 312-5 from their 50 overs, when the heavens opened.

Play was eventually called off for the day at 1844 BST on Saturday evening - and we'll all be back bright and early on Sunday for the match to continue.

"One reserve day has been allocated in case of weather interference. If there is a delayed start or one or more interruptions in play, the Umpires may order extra time on the first day if they consider that a finish can be obtained on that day.

"If the Umpires are satisfied that a result cannot be obtained on the first day, the timing for cessation of play on that day will be 8pm. Up to 60 minutes of extra official playing time is available on the Reserve Day to make up for playing time lost."

So, it looks like Durham may have to wait until Sunday to complete what looks like a famous victory. But what will be a pity for them (and their fans, some of whom will have travelled a long way) is that they may have to do so in front of a half-empty Lord's tomorrow, rather than today's near full house.

Hampshire know all about finishing a final with an anti-climax, as their Benson & Hedges Cup victory over Kent in 1992 was stretched into the second day in similar circumstances, and Mark Nicholas lifted the trophy early on Sunday afternoon.

Although Nicholas's modern-day successor Shane Warne, he of the never-say-die attitude, may dream of an unlikely fightback tomorrow led by Nic Pothas, Dimitri Mascarenhas and himself, the reality is that Hampshire need an unllikely 155 more runs off 17.3 overs, at a rate approaching nine an over, with five wickets in hand. Their nemesis Ottis Gibson can only bowl two of those overs.

So, the odds suggest that Durham will wrap it up tomorrow - and Benkenstein, Gibson, Chanderpaul, Mustard and the other heroes can enjoy their day in the sun.

But cricket's a funny game - is it Durham's to lose now? Will Hampshire play with the freedom that comes from chasing a lost cause, like Paul Nixon and Ravi Bopara did when they almost snatched England that unlikely World Cup victory from the jaws of defeat against Sri Lanka?

Let me know what you think - I'll be back here tomorrow.

White clothing has long been a thing of the past in one-day cricket - with some counties even sporting different coloured kit in different competitions.

So today, we have the slightly bizarre sight of both teams in yellow shirts with dark blue trim, and dark blue trousers!

It also makes identifying spectaors difficult at a distance - although it looks like Hampshire's main support is on the Mound Stand, Edrich Stand and Tavern side, while there are plenty of Durham followers in the Compton Stand and Grandstand.

Traditionally, back in the day when this competition was known as the Gillette Cup and then the NatWest Trophy, the final was played a week into September, and because of the prevailing conditions, the mantra for teams that won the toss seemed to be "stick 'em in".

As we're still in August, a little surprise was expressed at Warne's decision to field first - particularly as Phil Mustard began by carving the seamers to all quarters, doing his England chances no harm at all on the biggest stage of all.

And did Warne make the right choice? His captaincy in the past has served Hampshire well - will it bring them a second Trophy in three years?

As well as this blog, I'll be posting on 606 throughout the day and answering your questions and comments.

For Durham in particular, their first appearance in a major showpiece final at cricket's headquarters is one of the most important landmarks since they were granted first-class status for the 1992 season.

The north-easterners are the last of the 18 first-class counties to reach such a final - but Hampshire will not need reminding that they were the 17th to so do.

Hampshire eventually got the monkey off their backs by reaching the B&H Cup final in 1988, and the NatWest Trophy final in 1991. Unable to get out of school on either occasion, I had to follow them on the radio - but my affection for Lord's began in 1992 when Hampshire again reached the B&H final. I was there - and I was instantly smitten.

Walking around Lord's on the morning of a major match, one can't help but get the sense of a well-drilled military operation taking place - not surprising, given that MCC's secretaries have included the likes of Lt Col John Stephenson (1987-1993). From the tempting smell of the hot bacon rolls on sale at the Nursery End in the morning, to the newly-installed drainage that stunned spectators on the second day of this year's Test against India (myself included) by allowing play to start just a couple of hours after one of the biggest downpours I've ever seen - everything seems well-organised.

I also remember being impressed, on an early visit, by the fact that you could buy completed, printed scorecards just minutes after close of play. (Maybe I was just more easily impressed in those days). Anyway, Lord's gained a special place in my affections, just as I suppose Wembley might do for first-time visitors watching their team in an FA Cup final.

However, post-1992, Hampshire failed to reach another final for 13 years, so I had to make do with occasional visits for Test matches - where I never seem to get through the day without bumping into someone I know, or hadn't seen for years. It's that sort of place.

I was in the stands two years ago for the C&G Trophy final as Hampshire took on Warwickshire in a match which was everything a Lord's final should be - with 562 runs and 20 wickets packed into 100 overs, and the game swinging in favour of both sides at different times. Warwickshire had looked on top after pinch-hitter Neil Carter, dubbed "The Unstoppable Six Machine" by Bears fans, launched a brutal early assault on Chris Tremlett before Nick Knight's century put the Midlands side in control.

But Andy Bichel had other ideas - frantically waving his hands in the air at long leg to get the Hampshire supporters going, before returning to bowl a superb second spell and celebrating one wicket with a cartwheel ("the worst cartwheel I've ever seen, and I want you to print that", Hants keeper Nic Pothas told me).

Lord's has been a happy hunting ground for Hampshire, with four one-day final wins from four appearances - but Durham have plenty of match-winners in their side who should not be overawed by the occasion. I'd just recommend to any Durham fans who may not have been to Lord's before: arrive early, walk round and explore the ground, and enjoy the day.

I'll be at Lord's on Saturday, but if you can't make it, I'll be posting on 606 throughout the day and answering your questions and comments. And before then, what are your best memories of Lord's, and what are your hopes for Saturday?