HAMPSHIRE began their Natwest T20 Blast campaign by collapsing to a rare Uxbridge defeat.

New limited-overs captain Sean Ervine won the toss but Dawid Malan, who was skippering Middlesex for the first time, responded with a 48-ball 93 as his side massed 195-6 – before Hampshire were bowled out for 126.

Without James Vince in their T20 side for the first time in four years (the club captain made 35 in the second Test against Sri Lanka), Hampshire had responded well to the loss of Jimmy Adams (11) to a sensational diving catch at third man by Middlesex's substitute fielder.

Adam Wheater continued to thrive in the No 3 role he took on at the end of last season, with a 15-ball 30 that included five fours and a cut six.

He put on 43 from 22 balls with Michael Carberry (15), but his dismissal, following a leading edge, triggered Hampshire’s four-over collapse from 55-1 in the final powerplay over to 77-7.

Ervine’s first ball as Hampshire captain was a yorker that ripped out his middle stump but Shahid Afridi cover drove the next delivery for four as Hampshire ended the powerplay on 60-3.

A big leading edge did for Carberry. Then Afridi (8) was run out by Jamie Fuller's throw from the cover boundary, after returning for a second following a misfield.

Former Middlesex man Ryan McLaren (3) was bowled through the gate by slow left-armer Ravi Patel and Will Smith (0) was caught at the wicket trying to cut the next ball.

When Gareth Andrew, who had impressed with the ball, was bowled, Liam Dawson responded with three sixes over mid-wicket, swept and driven, in a career-best 46 (29 balls), before holing out.

Hampshire had won their previous four matches at Uxbridge but it was always going to be difficult to avoid a first defeat there since 2003, the shortest format’s inaugural season, after Malan's blitz.

Hampshire used six of their seven bowlers in the first seven overs but conceded 53-2 during the six-over powerplay with new signing Andrew involved in both wickets.

He caught Paul Stirling (14) at short third man off McLaren at the end of the third over, before having Nick Gubbins caught on the square leg boundary by Smith three balls later.

Malan was magnificent. The England Lions left-hander drove four successive fours in Tino Best’s first T20 over for two years and shared a third-wicket stand of 59 in seven overs with Adam Voges before the Aussie skied to Dawson.

After driving Dawson’s first ball for a maximum and cutting Crane over the rope he drilled the first ball after Voges’ exit, against Dawson, over long-on.

Smith conceded two sixes in three balls before the Middlesex captain hit a gargantuan maximum against Afridi, over mid-wicket.

Afridi responded by bookending an excellent final over with a low return catch, and a stumping after an excellent leg break against Higgins.

But it was not to be for Hampshire, who will look to avenege their 69-run defeat take, in the Specsavers County Championship match that starts at Merchant Taylors' School on Sunday.

Hampshire bowling: Smith 2-0-25-0, Best 4-0-51-0, McLaren 3-0-24-1, Andrew 3-0-19-2, Afridi 4-0-27-2, Crane 2-0-25-0, Dawson 2-0-21-0.