The Hampshire players were celebrating with fireworks going off around the ground when Nathan Ellis bowled Richard Gleeson with what should have been the last ball of the match, only for the ball to be called a no-ball.

That left Lancashire with a free hit and just two needed to win, a tie being enough for them to triumph courtesy of a higher powerplay total.

• Lancashire vs Hampshire scorecard
• Vitality Blast Finals Day - as it happened

However, Gleeson swung and missed and despite trying to scramble two byes to the wicketkeeper amid more confusion, they managed only one and Hampshire could celebrate again.

A third Blast title seemed a long way off when Matt Parkinson (4-26) took his fourth wicket to leave the Hawks 111-7.

Even after finding their way to 152-7, Ben McDermott top-scoring with 62 from 36 balls, Hampshire appeared in trouble with Lancashire seemingly cruising at 72-1 in the eighth over.

However, spinners Liam Dawson (2-23) and Mason Crane (1-19) started the fightback and with the pitch getting increasingly difficult to bat on, Lancashire struggled to regain any sort of momentum.

They did enough to keep themselves in contention right to the last but even with all the last-ball drama, it was more Finals Day disappointment for Lancashire as the Hawks took the trophy.

Parkinson puts Hawks in a spin

James Vince won the toss and quickly decided to bat first, following the formula that had helped Hampshire to 11 wins from 12 games coming into the final.

They were quickly under pressure though as Vince (5) was castled by Richard Gleeson (1-27) in the second over before Luke Wood (2-26) removed semi-final star Tom Prest (2) at the end of the next.

McDermott countered for the Hawks, hitting Wood and Danny Lamb into the stands to take his side to 48-2 at the end of the powerplay.

With the introduction of Parkinson, though, Lancashire soon seized back control.

Then leggie got up and running with the wicket of Joe Weatherley, caught by Steven Croft after top-edging a sweep, and had Dawson caught at long-off to leave Hampshire 67-4 in the 10th over.

Again, McDermott countered, taking 21 from Luke Wells' solitary over to bring up a half-century from 32 balls.

However, the Aussie's fun came to an end first ball of the next over when Parkinson deceived him with a ball that drifted in and skidded on to hit leg stump.

A telling blow struck by the Lightning, and they ramped up the pressure on Hampshire further with Lamb (1-21) and Parkinson accounting for James Fuller (10) and Nathan Ellis (2), respectively.

From 111-7 midway through the 15th over, Hampshire were able to claw their way up to a total that gave their bowlers a chance, with Ross Whiteley (22 from 20) and Chris Wood (20no from 17) playing handy knocks in the circumstances.

Lancashire come unstuck after strong start

Lancashire had blitzed 89 in the powerplay in their semi-final win over Yorkshire and when Phil Salt pulled the first ball of the chase for four and then clubbed a free hit into the Hollies Stand, their supporters were dreaming of a repeat.

However, a third pull shot in the Wood over proved one too many and a top-edge was well taken by Prest coming in from deep square to take the catch.

After a number of plays and misses in the next couple of overs, punctuated by Keaton Jennings' remarkable falling over ramp shot for six, Steven Croft got Lancashire going again with four fours in a row off Brad Wheal, the last two gloriously pummelled through the covers.

Lancashire breezed through the remainder of the powerplay but the introduction of spin changed the complexion of the chase completely.

Croft (36 off 25) was caught down the legside in bizarre fashion off Mason Crane - the ball hitting his pad before the follow through of his attempted pull flicked the ball and McDermott caught it between his legs.

Dane Vilas survived a caught behind review next ball but Jennings (24 off 20) departed in the next, holing out to give Liam Dawson (2-23) his first wicket, and Hampshire were suddenly right back in the game.

A big moment came in Dawson's last over when Vilas (23 off 20), having taken Lancashire past 100 with a six uppercut over third, tried to hit the left-arm spinner over cover but could not quite get the elevation and Vince jumped and reached up to take the catch.

Hampshire bowlers expertly squeeze Lancashire

The Hawks were celebrating again in the next over when Luke Wells was given lbw to Crane, only for the left-hander to be reprieved after a review with the ball shown to be missing off stump.

Lancashire needed little more than a run a ball but with the tension building with every ball and Hampshire's bowlers executing their plans brilliantly, even that was tricky.

Their task became even tougher when expert finisher Tim David (8) was trapped lbw by Fuller - this time the review did not help the Lightning.

The impressive Fuller (2-19) then had Lamb (2) caught but just when it seemed Hampshire had the game wrapped up, in the 19th over, Wells pulled Wood for six and clubbed the next ball for four.

He was run out by a direct hit from Vince to end that over, leaving Lancashire needing 11 from the last, bowled by Ellis.

That was whittled down to seven from three before Luke Wood was run out. Gleeson came in and hit his first ball for two, leaving four needed from the ball.

Even at that stage, no one could have anticipated the dramatic finish that was to come and, eventually, see Hampshire crowned champions.

Were Lancashire unfairly denied victory in last-ball drama?

Vilas questioned why Lancashire were denied the chance to run another bye from the last legitimate delivery of the final.

Ellis' yorker cannoned into Gleeson's stumps but as fireworks filled the night sky, replays showed the Hampshire seamer had overstepped.

Gleeson missed the free hit that followed but he and Hartley scampered through for a single and then appeared to complete a second run that would have been enough to level the scores and give victory to Lancashire as their
powerplay score was superior, with the sides also tied in losing eight wickets.

But amid chaotic, scenes Hampshire were hoovering up stumps and despite Vilas remonstrating with the umpires at the end, it was deemed a dead ball had been called before the second run was completed.

Law 20.2 states "whether the ball is finally settled or not is a matter for the umpire alone to decide", and while Vilas ultimately accepted what happened, he felt the officials were a little hasty.

"We thought the ball was still live," Vilas said. "There was a little bit of confusion out there but the umpires called the ball dead as soon as they took the stumps off at the striker's end.

"Everything was going on out there at that stage and I can't be 100 per cent sure of what was said, exactly, but we thought maybe we could have had a look and seen if there was a review or something.

"But obviously there wasn't and it ended up going Hampshire's way."

Asked if the umpires could have conferred after a replay, Vilas added: "We look for everything else but ultimately it's their decision and their decision is final, which we as players know and respect."

On the commotion at the end, Vince said: "They weren't going to run two to the wicketkeeper so I'm not sure what (Vilas) is trying to say."

Vince ultimately preferred to praise his side's never-say-die spirit, having posted what seemed a below-par total.

"The resilience and the belief within the group probably comes through winning," added Vince. You've got to experience those situations a couple of times to build the belief and not just in T20 but in four-day cricket as well. We know we're never out of the game.

"It would have been easy, especially after the start they got off to, to sit back and let them cruise to victory but there's no point in me saying it, the guys have got to act it and they did brilliantly."

Hampshire's bowlers dutifully stuck to their task as Lancashire's challenge subsided but Vilas was satisfied with their efforts despite falling short.

"I'm hugely disappointed not to be lifting the trophy but I'm extremely proud of the guys," Vilas added. "It was a great day but very, very disappointing to not be on the winning end when we gave a good account of ourselves."

Watch the series-deciding third one-day international between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford from 10.30am, Sunday live on Sky Sports Cricket. Play begins at 11am.