Hampshire booked their place in the Friends Life t20 quarter-finals after completing a spectacular run chase against Essex.

Set what appeared to be a challenging total of 183 to win at the Ageas Bowl, the Royals stormed home to victory with four balls to spare.

The result ensures the competition’s defending champions of a top-two place in their group, with two matches still to play.

Hampshire had a prodigious display of hitting from Michael Carberry to thank, as well as vital contributions from Sean Ervine and Neil McKenzie.

Carberry smacked 54 off 41 balls, including six fours and two sixes, to set his team on their way to the total.

Ervine (36) and McKenzie (29*) then helped power the Royals over the line.

Hampshire made two changes from the team that lost to Kent last Sunday. Sohail Tanvir, away on international duty with Pakistan, was replaced by David Griffiths, while wicketkeeper Michael Bates was dropped in favour of Adam Wheater.

The Royals won the toss and elected to field. Essex opener Hamish Rutherford smacked a fearless 22 runs off the first 11 balls, before Michael Carberry sent him packing with a superb diving catch at deep point.

Owais Shah came in and signalled his intent with a pair of early sixes off Dimi Mascarenhas. Shah required a runner after injuring his leg on 33, but that did not affect his run-scoring ability.

After Greg Smith (11) was dismissed lbw by Danny Briggs, Shah brought up his half century with another six off Mascarenhas.

Liam Dawson bowled Bopara in the 14th over to leave Essex 115/3, before Shah (68) went next over, holing out to David Griffiths at mid-wicket off Mascarenhas.

A dead-eye throw from Briggs accounted for James Foster (19), but Ryan ten Doeschate (28*) and Graham Napier (15*) kept the score moving, as Essex closed on 182/5.

Carberry got the Royals off to the ideal start, launching a pair of sixes off Graham Napier in the second over.

Hampshire reached 60 before James Vince (17) fell lbw to Tim Phillips. Jimmy Adams came in and made 12 before he was caught by Bopara at long-on, with the Royals 92/2.

But it was Carberry who Essex really wanted out. They eventually got him, but not until he reached 54, when he was judged to have been caught behind off Tait, with Hampshire on 114.

Ervine and McKenzie picked up where he left off and drove the Royals on. Ervine and Wheater lost their wickets late on, but by then the hosts were practically home and hosed.

Helped by six penalty runs imposed on Essex for slow play, they sparked scenes of celebrations when McKenzie flicked away a single in the final over to seal victory.