16/9/00 - Moment of truth for the County

County officials, however, are praying the wet weather will relent to give them a fighting chance of hitting their dual targets.

Today the side were hoping to salvage something from their weather-wrecked County Championship Division Two match against North-amptonshire at New Road which they need to win to stand any chance of promotion.

Tomorrow they must triumph to avoid National League relegation.

On the Championship front, however, Worcestershire's promotion efforts have been badly affected by the rain.

For the second day running yesterday their match with Northamptonshire was washed out leaving the County on 50-5 in reply to the champions' first innings total of 260 all out.

New Road coach Bill Athey said: "Being off the field doesn't help us one bit, but we are at the mercy of the weather.

"We can't do anything about it. We have to accept it, we have no choice.

"But if we are not on the field our chances are reduced by the minute."

Athey is now hoping for improved weather conditions tomorrow when his Royals side play their last match of the season by hosting Kent Spitfires.

The County are currently in the third-from-bottom relegation spot after topping the table earlier in the season.

Their last eight league matches have ended in six defeats and two no results. The grim sequence includes a 44-run reversal against Kent at Canterbury last month.

Tomorrow's match will be a farewell appearance for Richard Illingworth who has been released by the County after 19 seasons at New Road.

"I'm sure he'll get a good reception. He's been a great servant to the club for a very long time," said Athey.

Illingworth takes the place of rookie paceman Chris Liptrot who is in the current Championship line-up. Philip Weston may also be added.

Worcs (from): Pollard, Wilson, Solanki, Leatherdale, Driver, Pipe, Rhodes, Lampitt, Rawnsley, Illingworth, McGrath and Weston.