HAMPSHIRE romped to an astonishing six-wicket victory with 42 balls to spare over Glamorgan at the Ageas Bowl to qualify for the Vitality Blast quarter-finals.

The Hawks started the day sitting in sixth place on the South Group table, needing to chase down fourth-placed Surrey’s run-rate to have any chance of progressing, which they did courtesy of Gloucestershire’s defeat to Somerset.

An emphatic fifth straight win moved the 2010 and 2012 champions up to third and their progress was confirmed by Gloucestershire’s loss.

After being set an imposing 185 target for victory by Glamorgan, who were put in to bat by James Vince, the home side needed to usurp that total inside 14.1 overs to leapfrog fourth-placed Surrey – which they achieved in 13 thanks overs to a 43 from 13 balls from Joe Weatherley and 69 off 30 from D’Arcy Short.

After being asked to bat, the Welshmen took full advantage of the perfect conditions despite losing opener Kiran Carlson to the third ball of the match with David Lloyd and Australian Test batsman Marnus Labuschagne building an impressive 92-ball partnership.

Lloyd belted four sixes in his 52 off 33 balls before Labuschagne continued the assault against the home attack, clearing the rope six times in an entertaining 78 from 47 deliveries before falling to Brad Wheal, who finished with three for 39.

Dan Douthwaite added some extra gloss to the total, smashing 21 from eight balls to help the visitors finish their final innings of a disappointing campaign with a flourish.

However, Vince and Short showed they meant business from the off, with the Australian hitting three successive sixes off Timm van der Gugten’s first over that went for 26 runs with the pair than taking 21 off Roman Walker’s.

Short brought up his 50 off just 18 balls as the Hawks completed the power play at 79 without loss before Vince departed for 39 when he was caught by Jack Cooke off Andrew Salter.

Colin de Grandhomme came in at three to try to continue the run bonanza, but he was caught on the boundary by Carlson off Labuschagne for five shortly before Short was dismissed by the spin of Salter.

Those departures looked to be a hammer blow for the home side’s hopes, but Weatherley stepped up to the plate and sealed a memorable victory with four sixes and three fours.