GLENN Maxwell has accepted his share of the blame for Hampshire’s Champions League T20 disappointment – and wants to make up for it next year.

The Royals had hoped to be playing their first CLT20 game yesterday but last week’s defeat against the Auckland Aces in Centurion ended their qualification hopes.

Maxwell was out cheaply against Auckland, holing out to long-on off against slow-left armer Ronnie Hira, before falling for a top-score of 42 against Sialkot on Thursday, just when he and Shahid Afridi were about to begin a late assault.

“Failing in the first game, and getting out the way I did, was really frustrating,” said the Australian, who scored Hampshire’s fastest-ever fifties, from 21 and 22 balls respectively, to ensure qualification for the FLt20 quarter finals, in June.

“It really hurt because I love playing with these guys,” he added.

“I felt that I owed them but we lost our one opportunity and our dreams were shattered.

“I’m gutted for the boys because this was their first big tournament.

“They were really looking forward to it, but we just didn’t start well. The first six overs of the first game set the tone for us.”

Maxwell is now back with Victoria, but hopes to return to Hampshire next year.

“I’m lucky that the club took me on and would love to come back,” he said. “It obviously depends on timings and different tours, but hopefully Hampshire will be able to take me on for some second or first XI games if possible.”