Worcestershire Royals replaced Hampshire Hawks at the top of Group A after crushing them by 108 runs in the Friends Provident Trophy match at New Road.

Needing 247 to win, the visitors were skittled for 138 off 38.5 overs, with medium pacer Chris Whelan claiming a one-day best four for 27.

It enabled the Royals to clinch their fourth win in sixth games and stay firmly on track for a quarter-final spot by taking a one-point lead at the head of the table.

Hampshire remain in contention for a place in the last eight with their two final group games being against Ireland at the Rose Bowl and Leicestershire at Grace Road.

The Royals, after winning the toss and deciding to bat in gloomy conditions, made 246 for eight after Ian Fisher had boosted their tally with a valuable unbeaten 31, his second highest score in one-day cricket.

Other useful contributions were provided by Steve Davies, who top scored with 34, Moeen Ali (31), Gareth Batty (31) and Ashley Noffke (29).

Davies and Vikram Solanki got the the hosts' innings off to a flying start by putting on 44 in six overs, with Dominic Cork's opening three-over spell yielding 30 runs.

Dimitri Mascarenhas made the first breakthrough when skipper Solanki, flicking down the leg side, played on for 23.

Mascarenhas then removed Stephen Moore before having a hand in Davies' dismissal by comfortably catching the New Road wicketkeeper at mid-off off paceman Billy Taylor, who proved to be Hants' most productive bowler with three for 37.

A smartly-taken catch low down off his own bowling by Liam Dawson accounted for Ben Smith and at the half-way stage in their innings the Royals were 124 for four.

Moeen, who hit a one-day best 125 when Worcestershire beat Hampshire by 53 runs in their group match at Southampton last month, fell to Dawson before Daryl Mitchell, on the back foot, offered a well-taken slip catch to Chris Benham off Taylor.

Taylor also saw off Gareth Batty, with Noffke's efforts ending when he departed to Cork.

Fisher's knock contained one six and five fours off 17 balls.

The Hawks' run chase got off to a grim start when they tumbled to 28 for four inside the opening 10 overs, with paceman Noffke and Matt Mason picking up a couple of wickets each.

After Noffke had comprehensively bowled Michael Lumb, Mason nipped in by ripping out Sean Ervine and Michael Carberry.

Carberry fell victim to a splendid catch at backward point by Smith, who was equally as alert to snap up John Crawley at short mid-wicket off Noffke.

Whelan removed Dawson and was then instrumental in dismissing Mascarenhas by easily catching him on the boundary off spinner Fisher.

Benham ended up as Hants' top scorer with a battling 42, which was far too little to stop Worcestershire from going into their final two group encounters in a powerful position.