DESPITE an emphatic six-wicket victory over Gloucestershire at Bristol, Surrey were edged out of a place in the last eight of the FPt20 on run-rate, by Hampshire.

Having restricted Gloucestershire to 147-9, the Lions victory was all but sealed by Steven Davies and the Surrey skipper Rory Hamilton-Brown's first wicket stand of 112 in eight and a half overs.

The pair bombarded the boundary to secure the victory and, despite the loss of four quick wickets, the Lions secured the points in just 11.5 overs.

The result meant the Surrey players had a nervous wait while they watched the final few overs from the Rose Bowl, but Sussex were unable to do them a favour as the collapsed to defeat against Hampshire and it was the Hawks who took the final quarter-final spot.

After the match, Surrey Cricket manager Chris Adams praised his side for their effort but admitted his team had made too many mistakes earlier in the competition. :

He said: "The lads put in a really polished and professional performance today. They did everything that could be asked of them. Sadly it was a little bit too late.

"Nonetheless, on today's performance and several others in the competition there's a lot to take out of this. We played enough good cricket to be there [in the quarter-finals]."

Earlier in the day Chris Tremlett had been the pick of the Surrey bowlers, taking 3-18 from his four overs as the Lions kept Gloucester down to a well below par score.

Chris Schofield was also amongst the wickets while Matt Spriegal and Andre Nel also struck. Just one more win would have taken the Lions, who finished with a record of won eight lost eight, through and Adams knows exactly which match that win should have come from.

"I think we'll look back at that game at Chelmsford," he added.

"They scored 78 runs from four overs and that was is it, the game was gone in a flash.

"That particular game was one where, for the first time, I saw us as a real threat.

"Up until those four overs we'd put in the most polished of performances, bossed a very good team and then one flash of brilliance from Scott Styris and a couple of guys not quite getting it right and the game was gone."

While the Twenty20 Cup dream is now over Adams is hoping that the Lions will continue to show the fighting spirit they showed in the final two games for the remainder of the season.

The team are well placed in the Clydesdale-Bank 40 over competition while they have shown signs of recovery in the County Championship.

And Adams was keen to praise his players application.

"Steve Davies was just incredible," he added.

"He was a real class act, above anybody else in the game. The captain is also starting to show what a talent he is. He is far from being the finished article, but if he doesn't go on and play for England I'll be very surprised."

Of the bowlers Adams was keen to highlight the contribution of Tremlett, who has shown an improved fitness level in the last few weeks.

"Chris Tremlett has been outstanding throughout.

"He has been a real warrior for the team of late.

"It was a sticky start for him, but we got him off and running eventually, after his problems with his groin and a shoulder, but I think you saw the true colours of Chris at Chesterfield [in the Championship] in that brutal game.

"He's backed it up in the Twenty20 and has been the stand out bowler for us in the tournament."