Chris Morris and Kyle Abbott claimed three wickets apiece as Hampshire kept their Vitality Blast hopes alive with a huge seven-wicket win over Middlesex at Lord’s.

James Vince’s superb knock of 69 made short work of the chase, steering his side home to a comfortable victory.

Middlesex were put in after losing the toss and struggled from the outset.

Paul Stirling’s poor form in T20 this year continued when he became Abbott’s first victim, LBW to the first ball of the fourth over.

Dawid Malan (23) and Stevie Eskinazi briefly threatened to post a score, but once the former had edged Morris (3-22) through to keeper Lewis McManus the Seaxes lost their way.

Eoin Morgan (20) continued the cameos trend, striking two sixes, before perishing attempting a third from the bowling of the excellent Liam Dawson (1-18), who bowled really well in tandem with South African debutant Tabraiz Shamsi (1-32).

Middlesex’s own debutant, Pakistan Test star Mohammed Hafeez tried to hold things together with 34, sharing a stand of 46 with wicketkeeper John Simpson.

But he was bowled by Chris Wood before Abbott (3-25) dismissed Simpson and Toby Roland-Jones with successive balls.

Morris picked up two late scalps as Middlesex lost their last five wickets for seven runs in 16 balls.

Having top scored with the bat, Hafeez struck an early blow with the ball when Rilee Rossouw drove him straight to Nathan Sowter at cover.

Hampshire skipper Vince though looked in ominous form from the get-go, one sumptuous cover-drive underlining his class.

Sam Northeast tried to follow his example only to blast a Roland-Jones delivery straight up in the air and give Stirling a simple catch.

But Dawson (35 not out), fresh from his unbeaten half-century against Surrey in the county Championship 24 hours earlier, proved a valuable ally to Vince, who went to 50 from 33 balls with his seventh boundary.

The 50 partnership came in just 32 deliveries and although Vince holed out on the cover boundary, Hampshire sprinted home with 31 balls to spare.