APPALLING weather and water-logged pitches have defined the 2012 Church Times Cricket Cup. For the first time in the editor's memory, neither semi-final match was able to take place.

London, the winners of the south-east group, progressed to the semi-finals after beating Leicester on run-rate, no balls having been bowled owing to wet weather. London were scheduled to play Carlisle/Blackburn, in the semi-finals, but twice the match had to be called off because of the weather. London progressed to the final on run-rate.

Southwark, runners up in the south-east group who were drawn to make up the numbers in the quarter-finals, beat Exeter in the quarter-finals, during a rare spell of dry weather. But Southwark's scheduled semi-final against Lichfield, last year's finalists, also fell victim to the rain, and the winner was decided, once again, on run-rate. It was a close-run thing, both teams having clocked up impressive scores during the tournament. Southwark's run-rate beat Lichfield's by a whisker, meaning Southwark will face their arch-rivals, London, in the final.

The final takes place on 6 September at the Walker Cricket Ground in London.