Lehmann frustrated as controversial umpiring decision calls a halt to thrilling run chase

With promotion-chasing Northants closing in on a record-breaking 349 to win on the final afternoon of an absorbing four-day clash, they were just 23 runs short with four wickets in hand, with George Bartlett and Lewis McManus at the crease.

On what was a cloudy Northampton afternoon, the floodlights were on, as they had been for most of the day, and a defensive Derbyshire had all nine outfielders on the boundary.

Martin Andersson and Matt Montgomery were bowling a brisk fast-medium, and there appeared to be no issue at all with player safety.

But midway through the 90th over, with Bartlett having deposited Andersson over deep mid-wicket for a six a couple of balls earlier, umpire Sue Redfern initiated a conference with colleague Simon Widdup.

There had been no complaints from any player, and no issue of any fielder not picking up the flight of the ball in the field, but the umpires decided the light wasn't good enough.

They brought the players off the field, much to the annoyance of Bartlett, and most of the spectators in the ground, who let their feelings be known.

Around 10 minutes later, a very light drizzle started and, despite the charade of the umpires standing in the middle and checking the light which was unchanged, the game was never going to restart under those conditions.

The umpires eventually called the match off at 5.45pm, denying Northants the victory that would have seen them sitting second in the Rothesay County Championship Division Two going into next week's final game against Middlesex at Lord's.

As it is, with the eight points gleaned from the draw, they sit third, four points behind second-placed Kent, and needing rock-bottom Gloucestershire to do them a favour against their rivals at Canterbury.

It was a tough one to take for Northants, and for Lehmann, who clearly felt aggrieved at the decision to stop the match for bad light, but refused to be overly critical.

“The dressing room is a little deflated, but for the majority, it was one of the greatest advertisements for the county game, for four-day cricket," said the Australian.

"The pitch was unbelievable for four days so to Craig Harvey and his staff, that was outstanding.

“And then conversely, there were some of the worst advertisements for the county game.

"I mean, I get light, but there were nine blokes on the boundary, and Shoaib Akhtar wasn't bowling.

"If Shoaib Akhtar’s bowling, I probably can see a little bit of merit in it.

"But that's the decision the umpires make, and we’ve just got to live with that.

"We can't do anything about it. The umpires' decision is final."

A brilliant 132 from opener Ricardo Vasconcelos had anchored the Northants chase, with the left-hander passing 1,000 runs for the season for the first time in the process.

There were also half-centuries for skipper Luke Procter and Calvin Harrison, but in the end it was all to no avail, and Lehmann said: “We were going right to the end, obviously, and even in the dark, we would have kept going as we didn't mind losing to have a chance to win the game.

"So, I'm really pleased with the effort from the players.

“We knew the chase was going to be tight and we had to get a good start, and we did that, putting on 150 for the first wicket.

"We also knew there was some rain coming.

"But we tried to motor a little bit before tea and lost a couple of wickets.

"I thought Calvin played well with Vasco, and then straight after tea, we said let's press go and see how we go, and we got 8.4 overs.

"We were hoping to get 15 and it would be right, but that's the way it is. That's the game.

"I know it's a little bit disappointing for the players, and I'm more disappointed for the fans and the people watching the game because that would have been a great finish for everyone to watch transpire."

Northants return to action when they head to Lord’s to play Middlesex on Thursday (start 10.30am).