WORCESTERSHIRE have won promotion to theNatWest Pro40 Division One after rivals Surrey lost to bottom of the table Somerset at Taunton.

Surrey beat Worcestershire at New Road on Saturday to throw the promotion race wide open, but they needed to avoid defeat against the Sabres to win automatic promotion as runners-up.

But it is Worcestershire who will be in the top flight next season as they held on to second place despite not playing, with Surrey throwing away their title hopes and missing out altogether on the promotion play-off.

The Brown Caps were defeated by Somerset by seven wickets in Taunton, opener Arul Suppiah's 51 runs from 50 balls helping the hosts pass Sur-rey's 177 in just 20.3 overs.

Surrey's dreadful net run-rate allowed Hampshire to claim third place courtesy of a five-run victory against Yorkshire at Headingley.

Greg Lamb was their hero by hitting 64 then taking four for 38 as the hosts were dismissed for 215.

Hampshire will face Glamor-gan in the play-off to see who will play in Division One.

Gloucestershire were promoted as champions of Division Two despite losing at Kent by 42 runs, with Robert Ferley impressing at Canterbury with three for 25 for the hosts.

Lancashire escaped the possibility of relegation by defeating Glamorgan by 109 runs at Old Trafford, with Murali Kartik taking three for 24 after Nathan Astle hit 78.