CRICKET REVIEW: Academy's Cup clash abandoned

That means than Matthew Palmer’s lads forfeit ground advantage this weekend when they travel north on Sunday to complete the first-round tie.

Play started on schedule in cloudy conditions with rain threatening, and when it arrived Academy had advanced to 72 for 2 in 20 overs.

Andrew Magee departed in the third over without scoring, and when Bradley Barry was dismissed for 21, the score had advanced to 67 for 2.

Mark Shields (0 not-out) and Francis Collins (38 not-out) were batting confidently with the score 72 for 2 when rain stopped play.

Tea was taken early but with no sign of the weather relenting the umpires had little option to declaring play abandoned for the day.

“This was a very disappointing outcome,” Palmer said. “With 72 on the board we were progressing nicely, but the weather deteriorated and we hung around until 4:30pm, when the umpires called it a day.

The 2nd XI started their Junior 2 fixture against Carrick II, but it also was abandoned because of rain.