The Hampshire Hawks have to win their next Twenty20 match against the Essex Eagles on Sunday afternoon to keep alive their interest in the competition, following a wash out at the Rose Bowl tonight.

Hampshire's South Group match against the Middlesex Crusaders was abandoned without a ball being bowled earlier this evening, leaving the county's hopes of reaching the quarter finals even more optimistic.

A pitch inspection at 6pm - 90 minutes before the scheduled start time - confirmed there was no chance of even a shortened Twenty20 game.

Hampshire are now preparing for the last of their four Twenty20 home games in the South Group, of which they are bottom, against the Essex Eagles tomorrow afternoon (2.30pm).

But they have to win that, and their last two matches - away to Essex and Sussex at the end of next week - to have a mathematical chance of qualifying for the last eight, with only a tie, three defeats and last night's abandonment to show for their efforts so far.

Only one of Hampshire's first five South Group games has not been rain-affected and this morning the England and Wales Cricket Board announced that all remaining games in the Twenty20 Cup can be extended by one hour in addition to the existing three hours.

Today's torrential rain ruled out that option so Hampshire and Middlesex took a point each as the ECB also decided that the fixture list is too condensed to reschedule matches, although reserve days may be introduced next season.

ECB chief executive David Collier said: "Counties and ECB are working in partnership to seek to maximise play and also maintain the credibility of this important competition".

Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove responded by saying: "There have to be more discussions with regards to what can happen in the event of inclement weather.

"We need a debate to ensure we get games that take into account player safety and spectator entertainment. I don't know exactly what David Collier means by credibility'.

"We had a five-over game the other day between Kent and Essex - does he think that's not credible'?

"To be fair, everyone agreed the rules before the competition started and the rules say that five overs a side is the minimum you can play".

Hampshire played three matches in five days earlier this week - against Surrey, Middlesex and Sussex - all of which were shortened due to wet weather.

Bransgrove added: "From what I've heard and seen, the playing conditions have been more farcical than the actual length of the games.

"We played at Southgate the other night on a pitch which wouldn't normally have been conducive to a county game, in any format.

"But large crowds attend these games and the umpires and the players do their best to entertain them by playing.

"I just hope we don't end up with a player picking up an accidental injury from playing on a wet surface".

Bransgrove added: "Perhaps reserve days are the answer - it's certainly something that senior administrators need to discuss.

"It's extra frustrating when we get rain for the Twenty20 games because the games are incredibly popular with the public.

"Ironically, the reason June was chosen to host most of the games was because it was thought we'd get the best weather! Perhaps we'll have to look at July next year ..."

Worcestershire claimed they will lose around £150,000 from having their four Twenty20 games at New Road flooded out.

They have re-arranged three of them, but their overall losses will still be huge.

Fortunately, Hampshire will not suffer huge losses as a result of tonight's abandonment. Bransgrove confirmed: "We've taken adequate insurance steps."