TWO defeats in the Twenty20 Cup have left the Hampshire Hawks needing to win all remaining games to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Their next game is tonight at Hove, where they face Sussex - the only team they beat during last season's campaign.

Hampshire find themselves in this predicament after losing their opening two games, against Essex Eagles and holders Surrey Lions.

It was an improved performance on Saturday at the Brit Oval for the Hawks, but it was still not good enough to beat Surrey, as the visitors lost by 31 runs.

The home side won the toss and, thanks to some excellent early bowling from Hawks' James Bruce (3-21), the opposition were limited to 31-3.

The Lions roared back as Mark Butcher (38) and top-scorer Mark Ramprakash got among the bowling, adding 75 for the fourth wicket, before Butcher was caught by Bruce off a Billy Taylor ball.

After Rikki Clarke (1) had departed quickly, Surrey then moved the score to an impress-ive 198-5, with an unbroken 90 partnership from Ramprakash and Adam Hollioake.

Ramprakash finished unbeaten on 76 from 42 balls, which included three fours and seven sixes.

Hollioake's 44 came off just 19 balls and four times he cleared the boundary rope.

Hampshire's reply had reached 24 before their first wicket fell and, with only 12 runs added, the visitors were struggling on 36-4.

Captain Shaun Udal (37) and Dimitri Mascarenhas then gave the Hawks some hope with a stand of 72, before Udal was trapped leg before wicket by Hollioake.

It was Hollioake who proved to be the game winner as he took 5-34 in four overs, and when he claimed the scalp of Mascarenhas for 47 the game was over as a contest at 130-7.

Nic Pothas (16) and Billy Taylor (12) shared an unbroken stand of 24 to the end as the visitors finished on 167-9.

The previous night at Chelmsford, the Hawks were unable to stop the Essex Eagles soaring to their second one-day victory over them this season.

The visiting bowlers looked to have done enough as Essex were restricted to 135-9 from a reduced 18 overs, with Mascarenhas taking 3-22.

Opener Ronnie Irani top-scored for the home side with 36 from 23 balls, which included four fours and two sixes.

However, once again it was a tale of woeful batting from Hampshire as they were bowled out in 15 overs for just 95 - their lowest-ever score in the competition by some 26 runs.

John Crawley top-scored with 21, but that was from 23 balls, with just one boundary in it.

Michael Clarke (14), Chris Tremlett (13), James Bruce (12) and Nic Pothas (11) all made it into double figures.