WORCESTERSHIRE were plunged deeper into the relegation mire yesterday after crashing to Hampshire Hawks by four wickets at New Road.

A seventh defeat leaves Royals stranded at the bottom of Division One in the totesport League with just five games remaining.

With Worcestershire now eight points adrift of the safety zone, victory over Lancashire under the Old Trafford floodlights tomorrow is imperative.

After an hour and three quarters was lost to rain, the County posted a reasonable 185-7 from 34 overs. But it could have been more as four batsmen reached 30 before getting out.

Hampshire, fresh their C&G semi-final triumph over Yorkshire, scampered to victory with four balls to spare, half-centuries from John Crawley and Shane Watson leading the way.

The County have five one-day games to rescue their top division status and head-coach Steve Rhodes refuses to give up the fight. "We can win five out of five easy," said Rhodes.

"Whether that keeps us up, only time will tell. Have we got the ability to win five consecutive matches? Of course we have."

The Royals looked set for a score beyond 200 when Vikram Solanki and Stephen Moore thrashed 37 in the first four overs. But a quick-fire opening stand of 46 was ended by Dimitri Mascarenhas, Hampshire's leading bowler with 2-34.

Greame Hick and Zander de Bruyn, in his last Worcestershire match, took the score beyond three-figures with a third-wicket partnership of 45.

Teenager Steve Davies made 34 off 32 deliveries, his highest limited-overs County score, to help push the home side to 185.

After losing two early wickets, Crawley and Watson each scored 65 and put Hawks on top with a 101 third-wicket stand.

Kabir Ali grabbed the wicket of Watson, but the visitors made it home with four balls to spare.