THE small matter of a quarter of a point became the centre of attention before Durham's match against Gloucestershire was abandoned as a draw yesterday.

That was what Durham stood to lose until they hurriedly squeezed in 2.4 overs at 4pm and just avoided becoming the first county to suffer a deduction under the new over-rate ruling.

"I apologise to all those who had to watch it, but that quarter of a point could be important at the end of the season," said skipper Jon Lewis.

Counties are required to bowl 16 overs an hour and for every over they fall short in each game they will have a quarter point deducted.

The rule does not apply until a team has fielded for four hours in the match and at the start yesterday Durham were just below that mark.

But by bowling 2.2 overs in Gloucestershire's second innings before rain arrived they went six minutes past the four hours with their over-rate standing at minus one.

Durham coach Martyn Moxon said: "We weren't aware of the four-hour ruling because we haven't yet received our playing regulations for this season.

"We found out about it from the scorers during the long break for rain."

The break lasted from 12.50 to 4pm, by which time Durham's victory hopes had virtually gone. But Lewis explained that they were keen to catch up on their over-rate and after Steve Harmison completed his unfinished over Paul Collingwood - off a short run - and Michael Gough rushed through the next two.

The umpires then decided the light was too bad to continue, and with the scorers calculating that Durham's over-rate was now spot on 16 the match was abandoned.

Given the tight scrap for the three promotion places in Division Two at the end of last season, Durham's anxiety to avoid a penalty was understandable.

"We had been aware of the overs situation throughout the game," said Lewis. "But we had focused on winning until it became clear that the only thing left for us was to get the quarter point back.

"If we had had a full day's play we would have made sure we bowled our overs quickly enough, but obviously the rain worked against us in that respect.

"When we declared we felt we had enough time to bowl them out and there was still a good day's cricket left. Coming out of it with only one point more than them is not a fair reflection."

After his first game in charge, Moxon added: "There were more positives than negatives.

"We needed one of the top six to go on and get a hundred after they all got a start, but the pleasing thing was that in both innings we had a wobble but managed to get over it.

"Andy Pratt had an excellent game. He played two very good innings in the situation he was put in."

The left-handed wicketkeeper made 28 not out in both innings and the four he clipped off his toes in front of square yesterday was out of the top drawer.

Already 276 ahead, Durham batted on for five overs when play began 70 minutes late. They added 23 runs before declaring at 255 for seven when Paul Collingwood fell for 68, chopping a ball from Jonathan Lewis into his stumps.

Needing 300 to win in 71 overs, Gloucestershire lost Tim Hancock to the eighth ball when he pushed forward and saw his off stump plucked out by Neil Killeen.

It was just the start Durham wanted but six balls later heavy rain scuppered their victory chances and left them to question again why for three successive years they have started with a home game, against their wishes.

They managed to beat Surrey last season, but two years ago they were thwarted by snow against Worcestershire, who were on the rack during the two days' play which was possible.

Even the few hardy souls who turned out yesterday would admit there really ought not to be any cricket so far North at this time of year.