Heavy late afternoon rain ruined what could have been a fascinating game at Truro when Somerset took on the Unicorns in the YB 40 – the first game of the the Cornish Cricket Festival.
Only two overs of the Somerset reply to the Unicorns' 231-8 in their 40 overs were possible and the persistent rain finally forced the game to be called off with each side taking a point.
The point was enough though to take Somerset to the top of the Group C table ahead of Gloucestershire on run rate, though Gloucestershire have a game in hand.
But it was a huge disappointment to a crowd of some 1,200 who braved a windy afternoon at Boscawen Park and who were looking forward to watching Somerset's powerful batting line-up in action.
Somerset skipper Marcus Trescothick won the toss and not surprisingly put the Unicorns into bat on a chilly and windswept afternoon.
But the Unicorns began well with Matt Lineker and Tom Lancefield adding 76 before Lineker fell for 36 off 37 balls, bowled by Peter Trego.
Lancefield then found a good partner in Mike O'Shea (19) as they added 54 for the second wicket before O'Shea was bowled by Craig Meschede who then had Craig Park caught for a duck to leave the Unicorns on 130 for four.
But the Unicorns' Scott Elstone dug in with 38 and Lancefield went on to make 80 before being the fifth man out with the score on 177.
Good bowling by Somerset then ensured the Unicorns could only make 231-8 with Meschede taking four for 34 and Steve Kirby two for 42.
It looked a very gettable total and Trego smashed 18 off Luke Beaven's first over, but just six more balls were possible before the weather intervened to and there was never any real likelihood they would return.
Somerset director of cricket Dave Nosworthy told the club's website: "It was a shame because we stuck to our task well in the field in bitterly cold conditions.
"It was tough for the players to communicate in such a strong wind, but they stayed strong as a group and restricted the Unicorns as their innings progressed."
The Festival organisers will be hoping for better luck when the second game of the Festival between Notts Outlaws and The Netherlands takes place at Truro on Wednesday (1.45pm)
Unicorns 231-8 (Lancefield 80, Elstone 38, Lineker 36, O'Shea 19, Parsons 16, Meschede 4-43, S kirby 2-42). Somerset 22-0 (two overs) Trego 19no). No result one point each,
