MIDDLESEX have failed in an attempt to have their Friends Provident Trophy defeat by Somerset on May 17 declared null and void after an umpiring cock-up.

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The ECB said today that on-field umpires Peter Willey and Michael Gough had acknowledged that they miscalculated the number of powerplay overs available to Somerset at Lord's, but after consideration the authorities decided to uphold the precedent. "Umpire errors cannot form the basis to declare a match null and void," ran a statement. "The ECB has great sympathy for the position in which Middlesex CCC has been placed, but a replay cannot be ordered in these circumstances."

CHARLIE SAYS: God, I wish the ECB and ICC would get rid of powerplays, an extra number of overs when the field has to be 'in'. I doubt if the public care one jot about their existence. It's just another thing officials can get wrong and another thing the captain has to worry about.