Michael Lumb became Hampshire’s first Twenty20 centurion on a record-breaking night at the Rose Bowl.

The destructive left hander will be a serious contender for England’s next Twenty20 squad if he maintains the form that sent Hampshire second in the South Division with a crushing 75-run defeat of Essex.

England’s top order should take note, for Lumb’s clean hitting was a joy to watch as Hampshire amassed 219-2, their second-highest Twenty20 total.

His unbeaten 124 (69 balls), the third biggest indivudual total in the history of the Twenty20 Cup, included 14 fours and four sixes. They are impressive numbers but it is hard to do justice to Lumb’s Twenty20 masterclass in statistics alone.

Lumb’s innings was the antithesis of what his dad, Richard Lumb, was used to watching from the non-striker’s end during his decade as Geoff Boycott’s opening partner at Yorkshire.

The disappointingly small crowd was given full value for money.

Lumb brought up his fifty (30 balls) when his first maximum soared over long on in the tenth over, slow left-armer Grant Flower’s second.

The powerful left-hander also hit fast bowler Maurice Chambers for a straight six and went past his previous highest Twenty score (84) by twice launching Danish Kaneria’s leg-spinner over the mid-wicket boundary in the 16th.

He reached his hundred (56 balls) with a four against Chris Wright to third man, where his jubilant teammates were patiently waiting to bat, in the 17th over.

Leicestershire’s Jim Allenby was quicker to the only other Twenty20 Cup hundred of the season, against Nottinghamshire at Grace Road the night before.

But Lumb’s appetite for runs was not sated.

Hampshire’s previous highest individual Twenty20score was Shane Watson’s unbeaten 97 against Kent at the Rose Bowl in 2004, but Lumb’s effort will take some beating.

Only Graham Napier (152*), one of four Essex players away for the World Twenty 20, and Australia's Cameron White (141*) have scored more in a Twenty20 Cup match.

Lumb's ferocious batting was nearly matched by Michael Carberry, with whom he put on 170 in 15 overs – Hampshire’s highest Twenty20 partnership - after Jimmy Adams was caught on the mid-wicket boundary for a rapid 17.

Carberry’s 42-ball 62 is his highest Twenty20 score since his competiton-best 90 in Hampshire’s biggest Twenty20 total (225-2), against Middlesex at the Rose Bowl three years ago It included three sixes that took Hampshire past three milestones.

His first maximum, over long on against Wright, brought up Hampshire’s hundred in the 11th.

He did the same to David Masters to take Hampshire past 150 in the 15th. And he brought up the 200 by cracking the second ball of the penultimate over, from Kaneria, over mid-wicket.

He was bowled at the end of the same over, having been dropped at long-off by Varun Chopra in reaching his fifty (35 balls) against the Pakistani leg spinner.

But that was the only chance he or Lumb offered during their electrifying second-wicket stand.

Brave Essex made 144 on a new wicket being used for only the second time (Hampshire amassed 191-6 on it against Surrey on Sunday).

But they were out of the game when Dominic Cork produced a double-wicket maiden with his second over.

England batsman Alastair Cook was caught at mid-on and then Varun Chopra was snapped up at backward point.

Essex lost a third wicket with no addition to the score when captain Mark Pettini holed out to deep mid-wicket in the next over, the fourth.

After putting on 68 in seven overs with former Kent batsman Matt Walker (50), Grant Flower (27) was bowled round his legs by Imran Tahir.

Ervine then continued his fine form with 3-19 as Essex lost their last six wickets for 34 runs.

Hampshire play three Championship games in 15 days, beginning with a trip to champions Durham this weekend, before playing their last four Twenty20 south division games from June 22-28.