Lancashire Vs. Hampshire YB40.

Lancashire clinch vital win over Hampshire. 

Lancashire celebrate the vital wicket of Hampshire
captain Jimmy Adams who made 41.

Lancashire increased their qualification chances from Group B in the YB40 campaign, by coming-off best in a nail-biter at Emirates Old Trafford.

Hampshire remain top of the group despite suffering a five-run loss to Lancashire.

The sides have already rightfully earned a reputation as two of the countries strongest one-day outfits, with the Royals snatching victory in an even closer twenty20 quarter-final.

The hosts mounted a formidable total of 261-9 but knew how capable Hampshire were of chasing any score put before them.

Three Lancashire batsmen made half centuries, including Karl Brown (66) and Steven Croft (65) who raised an essential partnership of 95 for the fifth-wicket.

Stephen Moore gave the Lightning a fast start, striking 51 off 43 balls with 7 fours and 1 six, before he fell to sixteen-year-old spinner Brad Taylor (2-50), who became the youngest first-class Hampshire player since 1867.

Hampshire were fielding a largely inexperienced side, with James Vince, Michael Carberry and Danny Briggs all on duty with the England Lions team. In spite of this Sean Terry and Michael Roberts made 50 for the first wicket.

The veterans in Hampshire's team also proved to be vital as they chased a home tie in the semi-finals. Dimitri Mascarenhas took 5-42 in Lancashire's innings, including the wicket of top-scoring Brown, who made his half-century from just 46 deliveries.

The experience of captain Jimmy Adams (41) and Neil McKenzie, who top-scored for the Royals with 65, kept the visitors hopes alive, but the required run rate continued to rise as the innings progressed.

Further support from Sean Ervine (43) put the game in the balance, with off-spinner Arron Lilley taking two wickets in as many deliveries as he finished with figures of 3-37.

Former Hampshire seamer Kabir Ali highlighted his talents as a death bowler, claiming equally impressive figures of 3-63 against the onslaught of the Royals batsmen who started to unleash all the big-hitting at their disposal.

Ali removed Adam Wheater (21) and Mascarenhas (13) just as both men began to swing from the hip, with the visitors needing 12 from the final over, a target they were unable to achieve.