GLOUCESTERSHIRE were frustrated by the rain after making a good start to their abandoned Royal London One-Day Cup game against Essex at Chelmsford.

Chris Dent was unbeaten on 33 from 30 balls with Michael Klinger on 17 not out when the weather intervened with Gloucestershire on 55-1 off 11.1 overs, Hamish Marshall the only batsman to fall for four as both sides had to settle for a point apiece.

Gloucestershire suffered the same fate when Monday's Royal London Cup fixture with Lancashire was called off without a ball being bowled.

Cameron Herring returned to action this week when he played for Gloucestershire against Sussex in the Second XI Championship.

The wicketkeeper has not played for six weeks after breaking his finger in the warm-up to the County Championship game against Glamorgan.

Kiwi Test player Mark Craig also appeared for Gloucestershire seconds having been training with the squad along with compatriot Todd Astle in preparation for New Zealand A’s three-day tour games against Kent and Surrey.

A superb Jonny Bairstow century was not enough to give England Lions victory in their Tri-Series match against New Zealand A at the County Ground in Bristol on Friday.

The Yorkshire batsman, who played for England in the last two Ashes series, scored 123 from 115 balls to set up a thrilling chase but the Lions were eventually bowled out for 260 from 47.4 overs, falling 22 runs short of New Zealand’s total with Doug Bracewell, nephew of Gloucestershire’s director of cricket John Bracewell, and Matt Henry taking three wickets apiece.

The tourists finished on 282 all out in their 50 overs despite Northants’ David Willey claiming 5-61, with Dean Brownlie hitting 115 off 107 balls.

The Lions also included seam bowler Steven Finn, who was left out of the Test team to face India at Old Trafford after making the original 13-man squad.

New Zealand A made it two wins out of two at Bristol after sweeping Sri Lanka A aside in the second Tri Series match held at the County Ground on Saturday.

Leg-spinner Ish Sodhi took 4-10 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 140 and New Zealand A took just 18 overs to reach their target with seven wickets in hand as Tom Latham hit an unbeaten 64 off 56 balls.