BEATEN HAMPSHIRE FINISH FOURTH
 
Hampshire slumped to defeat in their last NatWest Pro40 League match of the season after looking to be in sight of victory against Lancashire at Old Trafford on Sunday.
 
Lancashire emerged as winners by 32 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis Method after rain ended the match prematurely.
 
Having won the toss, Lancashire were indebted to Mark Chilton (77 not out) and Steven Croft (46 not out) for totalling 199-4 off their 40 overs. They shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 104.
 
Earlier in the innings, Hampshire's Sean Ervine brilliantly ran out Simon Marshall with a direct hit from 50 yards with virtually one stump to aim at.
 
Billy Taylor and James Bruce took a wicket apiece, there were two run-outs and youngsters David Balcombe and Liam Dawson both bowled economical five-over spells, costing 19 and 20 runs respectively.
 
Hampshire's reply got off to a flying start, Michael Lumb (37) and Chris Benham (53) sharing a superb opening stand of 83 in 11 overs.
 
But then wickets tumbled as Hampshire collapsed to 116-7, paceman Sajid Mahmood taking 3-33 and spinner Gary Keedy 2-12.
 
Drizzle drove the players off minutes later with Hampshire 122-7 off 25.1 overs and, following a spell of heavy rain, the match was called off at 5.45pm.
 
Hampshire finished fourth in the table--victory would have left them runners-up--with Worcestershire winning the title. Notts came second and Lancashire third.
 
LANCASHIRE 199-4 (40 overs): Chilton 77 not out, Croft 46 not out, Taylor 1-41, Bruce 1-45; HAMPSHIRE 122-7 (25.1 overs): Benham 53, Lumb 37, Mahmood 3-33, Keedy 2-12.
 
LANCASHIRE won by 32 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis Method.

Scorecard

 Udal leads out the Hawks at Old Trafford (Photos -  peakpix digital images)

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