Former England coach Duncan Fletcher can look forward to a Lord's final in three weeks time as Hampshire overcame Lancashire by 64 runs in the Friends Provident Trophy semi-final at Old Trafford.

Fletcher, who led England to Ashes glory in 2005, has joined up with the Hawks for a month in a consultancy role having initially worked with them pre-season in Cape Town.

The 60-year-old took part in the warm-up before the game and then saw Hampshire opener Jimmy Adams make significant contributions with the bat and in the field to help seal his side's success.

Adams and fellow opener Michael Lumb plundered 159 off only 25 overs before Hampshire collapsed to 271 all out.

But then Adams pulled off two stunning catches to remove Lancashire dangermen VVS Laxman and Francois du Plessis as the home side were dismissed for 207. It will be Hampshire's third final appearance in five years.

Fletcher's successor with England, Peter Moores, sat on the opposite balcony in his role as Lancashire coach as the semi-final hoodoo of the Red Rose county struck again.

It was the ninth time they had fallen at the last four hurdle in a competition since winning their last trophy, the Axa and Equity (one-day) League in 1999.

The Hawks had looked on course for a massive total after openers Lumb and Adams plundered 159 off only 25 overs.

But then 10 wickets went down in 24 overs for only a further 112 runs with Lightning skipper Glenn Chapple, Gary Keedy and Sajid Mahmood claiming three wickets apiece.

The opening stand had contained 12 fours and three sixes but there only four boundaries in the remainder of the Hampshire innings.

Adams was first to his half century off 47 balls with five fours and a six. But Lumb actually reached his 50 in two fewer deliveries and also struck five fours and a six.

Mahmood conceded 28 runs in his first three overs but he made a double breakthrough when returning to the attack to start Hampshire's decline.

Adams was the first to fall after making 78 off 71 balls with six fours and two sixes when he cut the England paceman and was caught one

handed at point by Du Plessis.

Nine runs later Lumb's innings of 76 from 79 deliveries came to an end when he lofted Mohammed to Chapple at mid on.

Keedy then ensured Hampshire were unable to fully capitalise on their flying start by claiming three wickets in quick succession.

He trapped Michael Carberry (12) leg before, bowled Sean Ervine (12) after he had swung across the line and then claimed a second lbw success when Liam Dawson (six) played back to finish with three for 49.

Mahmood (three for 56) and Chapple (three for 46) worked their way through the lower order as Hampshire were bowled out in 48.4 overs.

Hampshire skipper Dimitri Mascarenhas struck with his first ball when opener Paul Horton (five) failed to get to the pitch of the ball and edged to Lumb at slip.

Mal Loye looked in decent nick and pulled successive deliveries from Mascarenhas to the mid-wicket boundary.

But, after adding 73 in 14 overs with VVS Laxman, he missed an attempted sweep at spinner Imran Tahir and fell lbw for 31.

It became 108 for three when Mark Chilton (18) failed to make proper contact when trying to pull Sean Ervine and he perished to Carberry on the mid wicket boundary.

Then came Adams' double contribution in the field to put Hampshire in command and effectively end the contest.

Du Plessis (five) perished to a one-handed catch at backward point off Ervine and then Adams held on to a powerful drive by Laxman (54) at short extra cover from the bowling of Dawson.

Tahir (three for 38) worked his way through the latter part of the innings including Steven Croft for 33 off 40 balls.