Cricket: Bowl-out threat looms after Belmont is flooded for semi-final

Torrential rain has forced the postponement of Saturday's Challenge Cup semi-final replay between CIYMS and Carrickfergus almost 24 hours before it was due to start.
By The Newsroom
Published 15th Jul 2016, 13:54 BST
Updated 15th Jul 2016, 15:20 BST
The damp picture at Belmont this afternoon after torrential rain hit Belfast on Friday morningThe damp picture at Belmont this afternoon after torrential rain hit Belfast on Friday morning
The damp picture at Belmont this afternoon after torrential rain hit Belfast on Friday morning

Monsoon-like conditions hit Belmont in east Belfast on Friday morning.

Several hours of heavy rain flooded the pitch and parts of the square and outfield, as these extraordinary pictures show.

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Neil Lamont, a CIYMS spokesman, tweeted that he had never seen the ground as wet and CI took the inevitable decision to postpone the game for a second time.

The original tie two weeks ago was abandoned with CI on the brink of victory when rain arrived.

The semi-final will now revert to Tuesday night and a Twenty20 contest.

However, if the weather wins again, and the forecast looks ordinary, the tie will be decided by a bowl-out.

CSNI are already through to the final of the Arthur J Gallagher Challenge Cup final at Comber at the end of the month.

Related topics:CricketCarrickfergusBelfast