WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids' hopes of qualifying for the Royal London Cup semi-finals have been dealt a significant blow after the abandonment of yesterday's fixture with Lancashire at Old Trafford.

The result leaves Lancashire with eight points from their seven games while Worcestershire have seven points from seven matches.

Worcestershire will need to beat Durham at New Road on Tuesday but must wait until Thursday before discovering whether that will be sufficient to see them progress.

With the final positions now being determined on a points-per-game basis following the cancellation of Gloucestershire’s match with Middlesex, the Old Trafford side have only to beat Essex in their final home game on Thursday to be sure of a semi-final place.

Following heavy overnight rain in Manchester on Saturday and further showers on Sunday morning, umpires Peter Hartley and Mike Newell conducted an inspection just after eleven o’clock and the start was delayed.

The weather relented sufficiently for a further inspection to be made at 1.45 but the rain returned with something approaching spite and play was abandoned at just after three o’clock.