The Hampshire Hawks’ Natwest Pro40 title hopes suffered a setback when their last one-day game of the season was abandoned at the Rose Bowl today.

A win against the Worcestershire Royals would have extended the Hawks’ lead at the top of the first division by another two points.

They were expected to win as the current Pro40 champions were without Graeme Hick, Kabir Ali, Simon Jones and Matt Mason.

But they had to settle for a solitary point which means they can still be caught by three teams – the Nottinghamshire Outlaws, the Sussex Sharks and the Gloucestershire Gladiators.

Nottinghamshire will pip the Hawks if they win two of their last three games – beginning with Shaun Udal’s Middlesex Crusaders at Lord’s tomorrow.

With two points awarded for a win and one for a tie/abandonment, Sussex need three from their last two games to pip the Hawks and their last match is a potential title decider against Notts at Trent Bridge next weekend.

A Gloucestershire win against Durham at the Riverside next Sunday would put them level on points with the Hawks and above them courtesy of their win at Cheltenham College in Paul Terry’s last match in charge, a month ago.