The Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy semi-final at Headingley between Yorkshire and Surrey will now be played on Sunday, after play was washed out for the third consecutive day.

The decision follows talks between the two clubs and the cricket authorities, and was reached to prevent the game being decided by a bowl-out.

The two umpires, Barry Dudleston and John Hampshire, consulted with officials from the England and Wales Cricket Board today.

"We had some misgivings about setting a precedent and playing the game on another day, but bearing in mind the final is not due to be played for four weeks we could afford some flexibility," explained Tim Lamb, the ECB's chief executive.

Surrey play Northamptonshire in a Norwich Union League match at Whitgift School tomorrow, so will have to travel south before returning to Leeds for Sunday's match.

"We've been guaranteed our England players - you want your best players available for a semi-final," explained Surrey coach Keith Medlycott.

"We'd have been happy to move the venue and we didn't really want to be driving up and down motorways but it is better to settle this by playing a game of cricket.

"I think both teams are pleased they have the chance to slug it out. We'll be more tired than they will because of the driving we have to do but we still have a chance to play a game of cricket to decide who plays in a Lord's final."

Yorkshire's captain Darren Lehmann agreed. "It's the best solution because nobody wants a bowl-out. We would have loved for the game to be over today and it means we will now be playing three one-day matches in three days.

"It makes it a tough schedule for both sides and there is a lot of cricket to be playing in the next week, but I still think it's the best solution. We did hear they were discussing the possibility of moving it to another ground, but why would you leave your home ground - that seems madness to me."

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