HAMPSHIRE slipped out of the NatWest T20 Blast South Group's top four after losing a run-fest by 14 runs at Somerset tonight.

After winning their first three matches of the campaign, James Vince's side have now lost three in a row - as well as seeing a home game against Surrey washed out.

Opener Lewis Gregory led the way after the hosts had won the toss, smacking 43 off 20 balls including nine fours, in a total of 204 for nine Jim Allenby contributed 37, while Gareth Berg claimed three for 35.

In reply, Hampshire were bowled out for 190, suffering their fifth successive T20 loss at Taunton in the process, with Lewis McManus top scoring with 34.

Somerset made a whirlwind start to their innings thanks to some sweet timing from openers Gregory and Steven Davies and some woeful Hampshire bowling that saw the second over from Kyle Abbott feature two over-stepping no-balls and cost 25.

By the end of the fourth over, Gregory and Davies had taken the score to 61, the former being dropped on 24 by Berg off Brad Wheal.

It was a relief for Hampshire when Vince produced a good catch above his head at mid-on to dismiss Davies for 32, made from just 13 balls, with Shahid Afridi the successful bowler in his first over.

Man-of-the-match Gregory holed out to deep midwicket off Berg and by the end of the six-over powerplay Somerset had raced to 83 for two.

Peter Trego fell cheaply, but James Hildreth ensured there was no let-up for the bowlers with a breezy 25 off 18 deliveries.

Allenby drove a catch to extra cover off Berg, but Michael Leask hit Wheal for six and two more maximums in the same over by Roelof van der Merwe, including a ramp shot, had Somerset on course for a huge total.

However, the 18th over saw Van der Merwe run out and Abbott strike twice to dismiss Leask and Groenewald, forcing last pair Craig Overton and Max Waller to exercise caution.

Hampshire replied positively despite losing Rilee Rossouw to only the eighth ball of their innings, bowled by Overton.

Vince cracked 33 off 15 balls, with seven fours, before being bowled by a full ball from Gregory.

George Bailey quickly followed, a victim for Groenewald, although Carberry was dropped on two by Hildreth at short fine-leg off Overton as Hampshire ended the powerplay on 51 for three.

He and Sean Ervine added 49 in good time before the latter was bowled by Van der Merwe for 19 attempting a scoop shot.

Carberry had progressed to 30 and was looking dangerous when run out by Groenewald in a mix-up with McManus over a second run.

At 93 for five the visitors were in trouble. McManus lofted successive sixes off Van der Merwe in the 13th over, but the next saw Waller beat Afridi's defensive shot and bowl him for 18.

When McManus was caught by Allenby at extra cover off a skier to give ex Bashley (Rydal) spinner Waller his second wicket, Hampshire were left needing 53 off four overs, with only three wickets in hand.

Despite the best efforts of Berg (31 off 21 balls), they were always falling short and when he was run out the innings ended with three balls remaining.

Hampshire's next game is at Gloucestershire on Friday.