HAMPSHIRE suffered a fifth successive T20 defeat for the first time since the format’s inception, against Essex at Chelmsford.

Sean Ervine won the toss but Hampshire could only manage 135-8, which Essex chased down with five wickets and seven balls to spare.

An opening stand of 49 in seven overs between Michael Carberry (34) and Tom Alsop (13) was as good as it got for Hampshire.

After an encouraging powerplay, the visitors lost both openers in the space of two balls.

Carberry, having carted Matt Quinn over long leg for six, decided to charge Tom Westley and was stumped by James Foster for a 26-ball 34, and Alsop chipped Lawrence to long off where Ryan ten Doeschate slid in on his knees to catch.

T20 debutant Joe Weatherley (18) and Liam Dawson (26) became bogged down in the middle overs, taking just 17 off five overs.

Part-time off-spinner Dan Lawrence kept them in check, his four overs costing just 21.

Dawson thumped Ashar Zaidi for a straight, aerial four in an over that went for 11 but a Napier slower ball did for Weatherley.

Then Bopara grabbed two wickets in five balls. Dawson came down the wicket and missed the ball completely before Shahid Afridi attempted a reverse sweep and was also bowled as Hampshire limped to 99-5.

After rocking on to the back-foot to thump Matt Quinn through the covers for four, Darren Sammy (11), who plays his last game against Gloucestershire at The Ageas Bowl tomorrow (1.30pm), was bowled by Graham Napier (3-31).

Lewis McManus (4) was the fifth Hampshire batsman to have his stumps splayed in the same over.

Gareth Andrew (13no) pulled Quinn over ten Doeschate on the midwicket boundary for six.

But two balls later Ervine was caught at long-on to end an innings spanning half-an-hour and nine balls and worth just three runs.

All-rounder Ashar Zaidi blitzed a 32-ball 52 as Essex, while Dawson was the pick of the Hampshire attack against the county he played for on loan last July.

It was indicative of Hampshire’s night when Jesse Ryder swung Gareth Berg at catchable height to midwicket that Andrew should palm the ball over the boundary for six.

But Ryder swished at Sammy’s second ball and was caught behind for 18.

Velani was also severe on Berg, hitting him for a towering straight six before belting a four through the unguarded covers.

Essex were behind Hampshire after the power-play overs (43-1) and lost two wickets in quick succession to Dawson. Velani lobbed the the slow left-armer to Alsop at long-on before Bopara exited lbw with a show of dissent.

The Essex 100 came up in the 13th over with a swept six by Zaidi off Afridi over midwicket.

Hampshire bowling: Weatherley 1-0-9-0, Best 2-0-21-0, Berg 3-0-25-0, Sammy 2.5-0-18-1, Andrew 2-0-9-1, Dawson 4-0-24-3, Shahid Afridi 4-0-28-0.