Chris Adams and the Sussex squad played a game of touch rugby after the third day's play against Hampshire at West End was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Umpires Ken Palmer and George Sharp called off proceedings after a fifth inspection at 5pm because wet patches on the square which had been left exposed to heavy overnight rain had not dried out.

With Hampshire struggling on 88-6 in reply to Sussex's 246, Adams was a lot keener to play than his opposite number Robin Smith.

He said: "The most disappointing thing for us is that the strip between the pitch and the wicket we're using tomorrow wasn't covered and that was the problem area.

"Yesterday morning it was genuinely wet, but when they did start to clear up the bad area in the afternoon it dried out. I think if they had done that work on it in the morning then we would have been playing in mid-afternoon.

"But that's the groundsman's decision, not mine. I have a lot of sympathy for the umpires, it is just very frustrating."

On a pitch offering such unreliable bounce there is still an outside chance that Sussex could force victory on the final day. They would have to wrap up the Hampshire innings quickly, get themselves a sizeable lead and give themselves 50 overs or so to bowl out Hampshire again.

Sussex's final second XI one-day Trophy fixture against the MCC Young Professionals at Hove was abandoned without a ball being bowled following morning rain.

The decision was made after lunch when, after consulting with groundsmen, the umpires ruled that there was insufficient time to stage a 20 overs-a-side match due to the amount of preparation necessary.

Sussex finish with three wins, four losses and one no result from their eight games, and Kent go forward from their group to the semi-finals next month.