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Sean Ervine's unbeaten half-century guided Hampshire to an unlikely victory over Middlesex in the FL t20.

Paul Stirling hit 82 not out from 64 balls as Middlesex posted 156-2.

In reply, Hampshire lost openers James Vince and Jimmy Adams inside four overs, but Australian Simon Katich (40) and Ervine led the fightback.

A flurry of wickets looked to have ended the visitors' chances, but Ervine (75no) and Dimitri Mascarenhas (14no) saw them home with four balls to spare.

Middlesex had looked on course for a second win in the space of two days, having eased past Kent on Tuesday.

Ireland international Stirling had scored 63 in that victory and continued his good form with another destructive innings, containing seven fours and three sixes.

After Katich and Ervine had put on 69 for the fourth wicket, Hampshire lost the veteran Aussie, Glenn Maxwell and Liam Dawson in quick succession and still required 31 to win from less than four overs.

But Ervine and Mascarenhas kept their nerve, Ervine hitting the winning boundary off Tim Murtagh in the final over.