Oxford Downs captain Wes Bartlett says it was the correct decision to abandon yesterday's npower Village Cup semi-final against Findon at Standlake without a ball being bowled.

The Sussex team had stayed overnight at the nearby Hardwick Park camp site.

But with Saturday's heavy rain leaving the square and outfield sodden, and further rain just before the scheduled start of play, the hard work of the Downs' groundstaff was scuppered.

Bartlett said: "We could have waited a while to see if the weather cleared up, but it was obviously going to be one of those days.

"It's not a bad thing to call it off completely, because a semi-final should be played out over the full 40 overs.

"It would have been such a shame to have a semi-final reduced to a low-scoring match with lots of interruptions.

"We are one step from Lord's, and it would not be a fitting spectacle."

The match will now be played at Findon next Sunday, but Bartlett hopes that common sense could prevail, should the weather conditions again prevent play.

He said: "The rules state that if no play is possible on a second day, the match should be settled by a bowl-out.

"I hope it doesn't come to that.

"I will be in touch with the organisers this week to see if it would be possible to take it to a third week, if the weather is bad.

"The final isn't scheduled for a few weeks, so if things are as bad next week, it would be sensible to try once more."

Bartlett is likely to be without Matt Watts for the return match next weekend as he is going on holiday to the West Indies.

"Matt is a bit gutted," Bartlett said. "You never know - he might want to come back for the game.

"We'll have to wait and see, but it looks like we'll be without him."