WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids will face Hampshire at New Road in the quarter-finals of the NatWest T20 Blast next month.

The Rapids finished runners-up in the North Group after tonight's final pool match against Lancashire Lightning at New Road was washed out without a ball bowled.

Hampshire have an impressive record in T20 cricket and have reached the finals day for the past five seasons, winning the competition in 2010 and 2012.

The last eight tie will take place on Friday, August14.

The Rapids had already been assured of a top two finish and a home quarter-final clash but they had to wait until 9.45pm tonight for confirmation of their opponents.

Rain depleted the last round with only two matches beating the weather.

Rapids skipper Daryl Mitchell said: “It’s the first time the club has qualified for a home tie in the quarter-finals and it’s a massive thing for the players, supporters and for the club, financially, too.

“It’s a huge game and it will generate a lot of revenue which is very important for a smaller county like us. I am sure we will have a sell-out crowd and, hopefully, playing at New Road will give us a slight advantage.

“We know more than any - body about how the pitch plays and a lot of players of teams in the South Group will not have had much experience of T20 games at New Road.

“Hopefully, being at home with a full house will give us a shot of reaching finals day for the first time.”

There was a soggy end to the qualifying campaign at Worcester after rain fell throughout the day.

Umpires Jeremy Lloyds and Steve Garratt called off play at 6.40pm.

Worcestershire director of cricket Steve Rhodes said: “It is so frustrating for the club, members and supporters and everyone who had tickets for the Lancashire game.

“We can’t do anything about the weather but it is very sad they couldn’t see what has been some great cricket in this tournament.

“We were looking forward to playing a very good team.

Lancashire are a very good team. We won up at Old Trafford but it could have gone either way and Ben Cox hit a magnificent six to win the game for us.”

Mitchell is hoping Rapids will reach the finals day at Edgbaston on August 29.

“Finals day is the biggest day now in the domestic calendar and we want to experience it,” he said.