Prince hundred keeps Lancashire in the mix

Lancashire 301 for 4 (Prince 102, Petersen 82) beat Hampshire 272 (Wheater 111, Adams 53, Dawson 52, Jarvis 3-46) by 29 runs
Scorecard

Ashwell Prince equalled his highest List A score for Lancashire as the Red Rose boosted their Royal London Cup quarter-final hopes with a 29-run victory over Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

Opener Prince notched 102 to set up victory after putting on a record second-wicket stand with Alviro Petersen for the visitors.

Adam Wheater gave hope to Hampshire to chase the 302 needed to win as he struck a century but they were bowled out for 272 as Lancashire clinched victory.

Lancashire batted well within their comfort zone for much of their target setting after winning the toss and batting - with openers Prince and Karl Brown putting on 50 for the first wicket in 71 balls.

Brown was the first to depart, leg before attempting to sweep Liam Dawson for 40 off 53. Prince reached his half-century from 65 balls before his compatriot Petersen joined him at the milestone in 48 deliveries - the latter's including an impressive six charging Yasir Arafat.

The visitors continued at their sedate but effective four-and-a-half runs an over, with Prince completing his 35th List A century in 111 balls. But two deliveries later he teed a catch up to Jimmy Adams on the square leg boundary ending the record-breaking stand on 147.

The away side then lost two more wickets at 20 run intervals - Petersen ending his highest score for the county of 82 by slashing to Mason Crane at point and skipper Steven Croft, after a quickfire 25, picked out James Vince on the long-on rope.

James Faulkner and Alex Davies then upped the run rate in spectacular style adding 36 in 16 balls with the latter ending the innings with a six over midwicket.

Michael Carberry creamed a cover drive off Arron Lilley in the fifth over of the chase but the very next ball he slogged into the hands of long-on. Adams and Wheater overcame their early set back by amassing a 50 partnership before the wicketkeeper launched a six over long-on off Stephen Parry.

Meanwhile, Adams followed up a club cricket ton on Saturday with a 56-ball 50 filled with type of form which had deserted him this season.

Five balls later Wheater joined his former captain in the 50 club in exactly the same amount of balls before the pair celebrated a three-figure partnership.

But after the glove bashing ended, Adams was wonderfully caught by Brown over his head in the square leg outfield when he sweetly pulled for a shot destined for six.

Wheater survived two stumped chances from his counterpart when on 35 and 50. T20 Blast hero Vince only added 7 before he found his off stump knocked back by Faulkner and Ervine - after a speedy 37 stand with Wheater - mistimed a drive to Brown at deep extra cover.

Wheater brought up his second format ton with a sublime back foot punch for his first six of the night which was scored in 104 balls. But he departed after only adding 11 to his three figures as he hoicked Parry to Faulkner in the deep before Simon Kerrigan nonchalantly caught Will Smith at deep midwicket.

Dawson pounced with a speedy half-century - from 46 balls - before Wood was stumped and Dawson and Crane were bowled. Hampshire were bowled out with five balls to spare, when Fidel Edwards lofted down the ground