LUKE Wells scored an impressive List A best 66 not out as unbeaten Lancashire completed a comfortable 51-run Royal London Cup victory, on Duckworth Lewis Stern regulations, against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.

Heavy rain arrived at 4.35pm, preventing any further play after Lancashire had reached 115 for 2 from 25.3 overs in reply to Hampshire’s 162 all out, with Wells hitting 12 fours in a superb 62-ball knock to put his side well ahead on DLS.

But the win was really set up by Lancashire’s brilliant effort in the field earlier in the day, with Tom Bailey (3 for 23) and George Balderson (3 for 25) the stand-out performers.

Bailey, Lancashire’s captain, led by example with a six-over new ball spell of 2 for 18 and later the wicket of Hampshire’s top-scorer Lewis McManus, who batted with skill and spirit with six fours in a 51-ball 45.

McManus was ninth out, fighting a lone battle after Bailey and Balderson had undermined the innings after Lancashire won the toss and, with poor weather forecast, opted to bowl.

From 81 for 5, Hampshire were briefly rallied by McManus – who lofted Keaton Jennings over mid off for four and then cut him hard to the ropes – and James Fuller, who added 40.

Lancashire’s chase began edgily, in front of a good-sized crowd, with Josh Bohannon skying a pull at John Turner to mid wicket to go for 5, and Fuller reduced them to 44 for 2 when Jennings edged a fine ball behind in the fast bowler’s first over.

But former Sussex left-hander Wells soon eased any Lancashire fears. Having driven Holland’s medium pace for three fours in four balls in the 12th over, he then took two more boundaries from Fuller’s second over before hitting the same bowler exquisitely through extra cover and steering him to the third man ropes.

Rob Jones also batted with quiet assurance, moving to an unbeaten 24 from 41 balls while supporting Wells in an unbroken third wicket partnership of 71 in 13 overs that confirmed Lancashire’s superiority.