SEAN Ervine smashed a 20-ball 55 at the Masters Champions League - but still finished on the losing side against Hampshire teammate Michael Carberry.

Carberry’s unbeaten 23 from 14 balls, including a four against Ervine and sixes against Andy McKay and Ryan Ten Doeschate, helped the Sagittarius Strikers amass 227-3 against the Libra Legends in Sharjah.

The former England batsman put on 62 in four overs with Mahela Jaywardene, who made 124 from just 60 balls before he was caught by Ervine off Ten Doeschate.

Ervine did his best to keep the Legends up with the rate, launching Yasir Arafat for successive sixes in taking 20 runs off four deliveries from his former Hampshire teammate.

This year’s Hampshire beneficiary also hit two sixes against former New Zealand star Daniel Vettori and another against Nathan Hauritz before he was caught by Carberry off the former Australia off-spinner.

The only disappointment for Ervine was the concession of 33 runs from his three overs, which means he has the worst economy rate in the tournament (76 from six overs).

He and Carberry are both in action again tomorrow, with the Strikers up against the Gemini Arabians and the Legends set to play the Capricorn Commanders.