Rain helps Kent secure quarter-final

Essex, Kent and Hampshire secured progression from Group B into the quarter-finals of the Royal London Cup after a damp evening which led for four no results.

Kent's match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston was called off without a ball bowled, which confirmed Warwickshire's exit - their progression was reliant on them winning and other results going in their favour - but Kent where left needing to see what happened at Old Trafford.

For a while, as Lancashire began a reduced 20-over match and moved to 68 without loss in the ninth over it appeared they may scupper Kent for the second time in a week after their nail-biting T20 Blast quarter-final. However, the rain returned in Manchester and the players could not resume which meant Kent progressed on run-rate at Lancashire's expense. Kent's reward was a trip to the Kia Oval to face Surrey.

Essex, whose coach Paul Grayson is under pressure for his job, were first to have clarity over their fate when their match against Sussex was abandoned after 32.3 overs of the first innings with an inexperienced Sussex side reasonably placed on 154 for 3. The result took Essex to 10 points and secure of moving into the knockouts. Subsequent results gave them a home tie against Yorkshire

The final game to be called off was between Nottinghamshire, the group leaders, and Hampshire. The point meant Hampshire took third spot in the group, although given a reasonably strong net run-rate they would likely have progressed even with a defeat given other results.

Nottinghamshire were handsomely placed on 254 for 3 after 39 overs following a powerful top-order display which featured half-centuries for Riki Wessels, Alex Hales and Dan Christian - the latter's 72 coming off 48 balls with five sixes.

Nottinghamshire have a home quarter-final against Durham while Hampshire travel to Gloucestershire.