ESSEX Eagles were beaten in their Twenty20 Blast opener against Hampshire, falling to a 17 run defeat last night.

Eagles were unable to reach Hampshire’s 173-4, falling all out for 156.

Having failed to beat Hampshire in the final seven meetings, it always promised to be a tough test for Paul Grayson’s side and the hosts, having won the toss, started well.

The opening pair of Michael Carberry and James Vince brought up a brisk 50 stand from exactly seven overs, but the introduction of Adeel Malik – brother of Pakistani Test player Shoaib – found Carberry slashing into the deep to make the breakthrough.

Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate only arrived back from the Indian Premier League the morning of the game, signing his registration forms on the team bus 35 minutes before the deadline and he celebrated the wicket of Vince in the 12th over.

Former Essex man Owais Shah put together a 67-run partnership to build the lead and, despite a fine catch by Greg Smith in the deep, Hampshire reached an impressive 173 for four in their allotted overs.

Essex’s reply started poorly when Chris Wood bowled danger man Jesse Ryder in the second over and it got worse when West Indian Fidel Edwards struck with his first ball for Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl with an in-swinger – dismissing Nick Browne.

Kishen Velani scored 21 from 18 balls before he too was clean bowled.

Smith scored a 21 ball 30, with James Foster and Callum Taylor – making his first senior appearance – both falling to spinner Danny Briggs.

Ten Doeschate quietly went about maintaining the contest with a 50 from 32 balls. The Netherlands man will travel back to India after Essex’s clash with Surrey tomorrow.

Graham Napier hit the biggest six of the night before Arafat got him next ball with Malik foolishly run out without facing a ball.

Ten Doeschate was bowled in the final over as he finished on 68 but his side lost by a convincing 17 runs with three balls to spare.

“It’s a result industry and we didn’t get the result,” said ten Doeschate. “We were a bit sloppy today. There is no excuse for hitting the ground slowly today.

“It is the first day of a big competition and we are disappointed with what we put out there today.

“None of them set the lights going it was a steady effort but if one of our lads batted well tonight we would have been in with a chance. 170 was a gettable target, it was a lovely wicket.”