LAST SEASON the Hampshire Hawks won all three of their floodlit National League matches. But last night they suffered their first defeat under lights in the competiton for two years against Essex at Chelmsford.

It was also Hampshire's first National League defeat under Warne's captaincy and was a serious blow to the Hawks' title hopes.

Warne lost the toss and his evening did not get much better as he was outbowled by the Pakistani leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

He finished with nought for 62, his worst figures of the season in one-day cricket, with 19-year-old Ravi Bopara doing much of the damage as Essex made 211 for 4.

But, even under lights, Hampshire should still have made a better fist of things.

Instead they lost by 35 runs after being bowled out for just 176 on a greenish wicket that was actually a deceptively good batting track.

Warne's forgettable evening was complete soon after man of the match Bopara, who had only taken a single limited overs wicket for Essex before last night, knocked back the Aussie's off stump for his second wicket in as many overs.

Only John Crawley and Michael Clarke had offered any resistance, putting on 65 for the third wicket after Darren Gough had sent Derek Kenway and Nic Pothas back to the pavilion in the space of seven balls.

The Hampshire openers were both out for ducks attempting to cut. Kenway chased a wide one and only managed a bottom edge, and Pothas chopped onto his own stumps.

But Hampshire, who would have joined leaders Glamorgan on 24 points had they won, were still the favourites while their two premier bastmen were at the crease.

Clarke's battle with Gough was a highlight but the 23-year-old missed out on his fourth fifty in five National league innings after running the ball down to substitute fielder Mark Pettini at third man and attempting a single - before he was turned back by Crawley.

His 42 from 48 balls included lofting Scott Brant for a six over long-off.

Lawrie Prittipaul struggled to find the same momentum and was eventually caught on the boundary by Will Jefferson.

Dimitri Mascarenhas failed to repeat Sunday's heroics against Warwickshire, but even after he played on there was hope - as long as Crawley remained at the crease.

Crawley did his job, reaching his fifty with a six - just as he had done two days earlier - before he ran out of partners, left stranded with an unbeaten 70.

He hit James Middlebrook's off spin into the members' bar at Chelmsford to leave Hampshire needing 57 off the last ten overs with five wickets in hand.

But Warne was soon out and, after Shaun Udal edged Kaneria to first slip in the next over, Hampshire folded, losing Chris Tremlett, Alan Mullally and Billy Taylor for just one run.

Crucially, Essex had made 67 off their last ten overs - despite Ronnie Irani's spectacular, self-inflicted, run out.

Alistair Cook had returned to the middle moments earlier as Irani's runner after the Essex all-rounder had suffered a back spasm, 24 hours after receiving treatment on his bad knee in Munich.

Irani was clearly still feeling a little travel weary as he ran himself out in spectacular fashion - after forgetting that he had a runner!

Irani's exit saw Bopara arrive at the crease - and the Essex teenager's only other outing this season was against Cambridge University.

But the England under-19 player made batting against a well below-par Warne look easy in scoring an unbeaten 40 at exactly a run a ball.

He and Foster put on 68 for the fifth wicket as Warne went for seven runs an over .

It did not get much better for the Hampshire skipper, who thought he had Foster's wicket before Mascarenhas dropped a sitter at extra cover when the Essex wicketkeeper had made 32.

Foster had also survived a missed stumping off Udal when on two and he made Hampshire pay, finishing on 46 not out from 59 balls as Essex took 39 off the last five overs.

In hindsight, Warne should have brought himself off and made more use of one of his seamers, who had all done well after a blistering start from Will Jefferson.

Jefferson was unfortunate to be given out caught behind after TV replays showed that he had not got an inside edge to a Billy Taylor off cutter, having scored a quick 32.

But Tremlett's second spell of two for six in three overs helped to create a stranglehold.

Tremlett came close to dismissing Alistair Cook with two close lbw shots but caught the England under 19 skipper off his own bowling at the beginning of his next over.

Cook top-edged an attempted pull and, with the first ball of his next over, Tremlett removed another left-hander when Andy Flower bottom edged a square cut on to his stumps.

But, after Irani had effectively fallen on his sword, Bopara and Foster produced the biggest, and most decisive, partnership of the match.