DIMITRI MASCARENHAS put his England disappointment behind him to set up a Twenty20 showdown against the Kent Spitfires at the Rose Bowl.

Mascarenhas, the hero of Friday's Sky-televised win against Sussex, starred with bat and ball to keep Hampshire's interest alive - 24 hours after his shock exclusion from England's provisional ICC Champions Trophy squad.

In front of a Rose Bowl crowd of around 7,500, Mascarenhas hit 52 runs off just 22 balls, including three sixes from four deliveries in James Dalrymple's final over, before taking a typically-economical 1 for 13 from his four overs.

It clinched a 30-run victory for Hampshire, who need a third Twenty20 win in six days against Kent tomorrow (5.30pm) to have a chance of clinching a quarter final tie on Monday night.

And after last night's display, who would bet against Shaun Udal's side?

Hampshire are hitting form at the right time.

Last night's 30-run win was the most comprehensive of their three wins in the competition and their total of 170 for 7 was comfortably the biggest in the four Twenty20 games to have been played at the Rose Bowl.

It was largely down to Mascarenhas, who could be forgiven for thinking of England selectors David Graveney, Duncan Fletcher and Geoff Miller as he smashed three of his four leg-side sixes in a final over littered with full tosses from Dalrymple.

Mascarenhas, whose dad Malik had flown from Perth in time to watch the action, said: "I was pretty shocked not to be in the England squad, I thought I would be in the 30 at least.

"It wasn't to be, but what can you do?

"You can't do anything else but go out and get fifties and wickets and see what happens from there.

"I always like to get runs and wickets and it was just great to bat and bowl well on the same day - especially as my dad was here.

"I don't generally play well when he's watching - he always tells me to hit the ball on the ground!"

Mascarenhas, who also hit a full toss for six over mid-wicket in the penultimate over from Simon Cook, arrived at the crease in the 15th over, with Hampshire 105 for 5 thanks largely to a timely return to form for Michael Clarke.

John Crawley, Shane Watson and Clarke all scored at a run a ball or quicker to provide the platform for Mascarenhas, who put on 51 in just three overs with Nic Pothas before he was caught on the mid wicket boundary after attempting to hit his fifth six from the last ball of the innings.

Earlier, Clarke had provided a master-class in one day batting to help Hampshire overhaul the Rose Bowl's previous best Twenty20 innings total - the 155 for 6 made by the Essex Eagles last year.

Clarke hit 46 from 33 balls, including six fours, on a wicket that was good by Rose Bowl standards, but Middlesex, who had lost the toss, were without England's Andrew Strauss and their batting lacked depth.

But if Lance Klusener had entered the fray earlier it would surely have been a tighter finish.

Klusener did not arrive at the crease until the 12th over, just when Middlesex were beginning to slip behind Hampshire's run rate.

When Paul Weekes departed for a run-a-ball 34, a year after scoring a Twenty20 50 against Hampshire at Uxbridge, Middlesex required 68 runs from four overs with no specialist batsman left to join a frustrated Klusener at the crease.

Hampshire could even afford to drop Weekes when the left hander had made 20, Chris Tremlett fumbling the chance at long on in the tenth over, bowled by Udal.

The home side's catching was otherwise outstanding. Watson had dived forward to take a sharp two- handed catch at point to dismiss danger man Owais Shah for 0.

And Greg Lamb expertly judged a steepling chance at long on to ensure that Weekes was not let off the hook a second time.

Dalrymple was also well caught - by Pothas, off the bowling of that man Mascarenhas - after putting on 56 in seven overs with Weekes.

Dalrymple atoned for his poor final over by hitting a 26-ball 31, including four fours and a six over cover off James Bruce, before he was caught at the wicket after snicking a loose drive.

With that wicket went any realistic hope of a Middlesex win and the Crusaders now have little to play for in front of a capacity Lord's crowd against the Surrey Lions tomorrow.

Hampshire, meanwhile, are looking forward to another big night against the Kent Spitfires.

Mascarenhas added: "Today was a final for us and Thursday is another.

"We've just got to win four more finals to win the tournament.

"We've got better with each game and we're all set for another big one. Kent will be pushing us hard and so will we."