George Bailey made his best Twenty20 score of 76 to boost Middlesex's hopes of a home NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final after they thrashed bottom-placed Hampshire by 43 runs tonight.

Australian star Bailey was brilliantly partnered by John Simpson in a perfectly-paced fourth-wicket stand of 114.

Ryan Higgins' first career five-wicket haul made sure Hampshire's chase never got going to give Middlesex back-to-back wins in the competition.

Middlesex, after winning the toss and batting, were guided to 181 thanks in the main to a partnership between Bailey and Simpson.

Dawid Malan, on the back of setting a record England Lions score with a stunning unbeaten 185, was caught and bowled by Ryan McLaren for just 11 this time.

England one-day skipper Eoin Morgan fell soon after with Liam Dawson falling on a mid-on catch, before Paul Stirling was bowled by Brad Wheal to end the power play at 40 for three.

But the wickets were followed by the mighty stand between Bailey and Simpson - never looking in trouble, never appearing to need to play the big shots.

Australian Bailey was the first to reach 50, from 38 balls. Wicketkeeper Simpson quickly followed to the milestone in just 32 deliveries, helped by a trio of maximums.

The partnership stretched from the seventh over to the 19th, when Simpson picked out Joe Weatherley on the midwicket rope.

James Franklin and former Hampshire man Bailey, who passed his previous best Twenty20 score of 71, both departed before the end of the innings - Middlesex scoring 181 for six.

In a tame reply, Adam Wheater struggled to time the ball and his tortured spell was ended when he skied one to Malan, and Tom Alsop copied his fellow opener's style four balls later.

Stand-in skipper Sean Ervine and England international Dawson ticked along with a promising 40 stand in five overs.

But the hosts were stunted again when Dawson chipped to Lions team-mate Malan at short extra cover before Shahid Afridi teed up to James Fuller at deep square leg.

Ervine was progressing nicely with a rapid 36 before Ryan Higgins' slower ball pegged his middle stump back.

Morgan managed to keep himself inside the boundary to hold onto Weatherley's slog, and the trundle of wickets continued next ball when McLaren reverse-swept to Bailey - Higgins on his way to figures of four for 13.

Lewis McManus nicked off, Brad Taylor mis-timed to short third man and Wheal was castled, with Hampshire losing their final five wickets in just 25 balls.