City bundled out Norths for 101 and managed to reach the target two wickets down before thunderstorms swept across the district.

Thornton Park were not so lucky needing only 15 runs with three wickets in hand against Eastern Suburbs when play was halted.

Raymond Terrace was on top after restricting Western Suburbs to 9/136 and were on 3/74 with skipper Nick Savage and Jaymes Thomas at the crease both in their 20s.

Abandoned game will be treated as draws with both teams receiving two points.

City United sit third with 37 points, five points clear of Raymond Terrace in fourth, who have a four point break over Easts.

Victory would have lifted Thornton Park to equal fifth spot with the Griffins.

The abandoned fixtures has again brought into focus the issue of the introduction of a Duckworth Lewis model to calculate winners based on run rates and wickets in hands when games are halted after a set number of overs.

Newcastle and Gosford cricket associations both employ the system and an app is now available for smart phones to do the calculations.

Rival skippers Andrew Trappel, from Wests, and Raymond Terrace’s Savage said it may be time to look at the introduction of a system, but it had been divisive in the past.

They said whatever policy was in place the paramount consideration was player safety.

“As soon as there is a hint of lightning around you have to get off straight away. We were on top, but the outcome wasn’t certain,” Savage said 

“I can understand Thornton being annoyed needing just 15 runs with three wickets in hand,” he said.

Maitland District Cricket Association president Brian Hammonds said a Duckworth Lewis system had been discussed in the past but had not been introduced.

“I certainly will be putting the issue on the agenda with secretaries,” he said.

City United found an easier way to resolve the issue winning the toss and sending Norths into bat and dismissing them for 101.

”Ben Davies and Steve Baker bowled well early. Josh Adams (1-17) and myself (2-11) then came on after the early pressure to have Norths 3-46.

“That set the platform for the spin twins Nick Bower 4-11 off 10 and Blake Thomas Chandler 2-15 off seven to roll Norths for 101.

“We were excellent in the field with Josh Adams leading the way with a full stretched diving catch in the outfield.

“Chasing the total we got off to a flyer with Matt Latham 39 and Karl Bowd 37 putting on 79 for  the first wicket and setting up the win.”