White expects strong response after defeat

The visitors slumped to a 69-run defeat as they were outplayed by their hosts.

Director of cricket White knows there is a long competition ahead.

He said: ‘It wasn’t the start we wanted because obviously you want to get away early in the campaign.

‘It wasn’t to be, though, and I thought Middlesex played well. We probably weren’t at our best,

‘There is a long way to go with 14 games in the group stages.

‘There are a lot of good sides in the group and all are capable of beating each other.

‘It is about getting some momentum and we must look to turn things around in our next game.

‘We meet Kent at home next and must look to gather some momentum.’

Hampshire found themselves on the back foot from the start as Middlesex opening bat Dawid Malan (98) who dominated for the hosts.

White admitted his team struggled to contain him.

He added: ‘Malan batted very well and we let him get going and didn’t find our lengths early on.

‘Full credit to him, he played a wonderful innings.’

The Middlesex target, though a respectable one, was not beyond the visitors if they played well on the small Uxbridge ground.

But the loss of Jimmy Adams to a ‘magnificent catch early on didn’t help.

Adam Wheater then looked as if he could do a job.

‘There was a time when Wheater got going that we looked in with a chance,’ added White.

‘If he had been able to put a couple of more overs together with Carberry it might have been different.

‘Instead we lost wickets at the wrong times as often happens when chasing a big total.

‘Afridi is a dangerous player and his run out was unfortunate.

‘With more time at the crease he might have been able to give us a platform.

‘Again, though, we lost wickets and it was very difficult to come back from that.’

This was the first time Hampshire had lost away to Middlesex in the competition since 2007 but they have the pedigree to bounce back quickly.

'Our record should breed confidence,’ added White.

‘We can look back at the way we have done things in the past and there is a lot of experience in our changing room.

‘The important thing is to keep things in perspective.

‘The loss will only give the guys greater momentum to put things right.

‘That’s the nature of T20 and we know that we can do a lot better.

‘We will put it right and the next game is an important one.’