Hampshire 2nd XI reached the final of the Aon Risk Trophy for the second time, when after a frustrating day at the County Ground, Southampton in which torrential rain spoiled any chance of a finish, the match was finally abandoned by the umpires.

Having been put into bat by Durham captain John Wood, the home side made a promising, and after 22.1 overs had reached 90 for 2, however the heavens opened with a vengance, and at 4.45, after much mopping up the umpires called it off.

Hampshire thgerefore went through to the final, by virtue of having more points (14) to Durham's (10) in the group qualifying matches.

Hampshire will play Kent who defeated Warwickshire in similar style at Canterbury on Tuesday Kent and Hampshire will draw lots to decide who hosts the final.

ECB Media release ...

Hampshire and Kent meet in Aon Trophy Final

Hampshire and Kent will both be vying to win the Aon Trophy for the first time when they meet in the final of this year's competition at Canterbury on Monday, September 6. (Reserve day - Tuesday, September 7.)

Kent will be appearing in their third final after losing at this stage before in 1988 and 1989. Hampshire were losing finalists in 1987.

After rain prevented a conclusion to this week's semi-finals, both teams progressed to the final by virtue of a better record than their opponents in the qualifying matches.

Sponsored by Aon Risk Services and now in its fourteenth season, the 50-overs-a-side competition is open to the 18 First Class Counties plus a Minor Counties XI and MCC Young Cricketers.

Each County is allowed to field no more than three capped players in the competition - nor more than three players over the age of 25 in any one match.

To date, a number of county cricketers have gone on to play for England after appearing in an Aon Trophy Final including six current England Test players - Mark Butcher, Nasser Hussain, Darren Maddy Phil Tufnell, Alex Tudor and Graham Thorpe.

The ECB's Director of Cricket Operations, John Carr, said: "The Aon Trophy is an important part of the cricket calendar. It provides 2nd XI cricketers with ideal preparation for first team one-day cricket which is very often the route by which they progress to the full county side."

Previous winners of the Aon Trophy

1986 : Northamptonshire (beat Essex) 1987 : Derbyshire (beat Hampshire) 1988 : Yorkshire (beat Kent) 1989 : Middlesex (beat Kent) 1990 : Lancashire (beat Somerset) 1991 : Nottinghamshire (beat Surrey) 1992 : Surrey (beat Northamptonshire) 1994 : Yorkshire (beat Leicestershire) 1995 : Leicestershire (beat Gloucestershire) 1996 : Leicestershire (beat Durham) 1997 : Surrey (beat Gloucestershire) 1998 : Northants (beat Derbyshire)