Aneurin Donald kept Hampshire’s Vitality Blast quarter-final hopes alive ahead of tonight’s final round of group matches - including a mouthwatering clash against his former Glamorgan teammates.

Hampshire are one of four counties on 13 points, all with hopes of clinching a place in the top four of the south group, going into tonight’s denouement, after getting the win they desperately needed against a Middlesex side including AB de Villiers at a packed Ageas Bowl last night.

Donald, who joined from Glamorgan last year, scored his first T20 fifty - a 33-ball 51 - to get Hampshire’s reply off to a rollicking start.

He put on 96 with captain James Vince – who clocked up his fourth fifty of this season’s Blast, ending on 66 not out, to take Hampshire past the winning post with nine balls to spare.

Hampshire’s win, which came despite South African legend De Villiers’ unbeaten 52 off 34 balls fourth, put them level with Middlesex, Somerset and Essex ahead of tonight’s trip to bottom-of-the-table Glamorgan.

Donald tore into the Middlesex attack,sending his fourth ball sailed over the rope at fine-leg after a wayward delivery from Tom Helm.

The Welshman larruped two boundaries over the covers before relying on his technique to cut Mohammad Hafeez.

At the other end, Vince manipulated the ball and ran hard, although couldn’t resist an immaculate back-foot cover drive as the opening partnership rushed pass 50.

Donald was given a piece of luck when he was dropped by deep midwicket Nathan Sowter on 47, before a deft glance took him to his milestone in 31 balls.

The 22-year-old fell to the next ball he faced as he reversed to short third man to end a 96-run opening stand – Hampshire’s highest of the Blast.

Sam Northeast was dropped on 12 before he was bowled by Steven Finn, but Vince passed his half-century in 43 balls and saw Hampshire over the line.

Earlier, Middlesex won the toss, decided to bat and reached a par 153-5 thanks largely to de Villiers.

Paul Stirling and captain Dawid Malan put on 47 for the first wicket in a little over five overs, both striking the ball cleanly.

But departed in successive overs, the former clothing to mid-off and the latter caught on the square leg boundary after the returning Mason Crane had frustrated him with four dot balls.

Leg-spinner Crane (2-22), who missed six games with a side strain, was the pick of the Hampshire bowlers and added Hafeez to his tally.

Eoin Morgan was lbw to Tabraiz Shamsi and John Simpson was caught at mid-on to give Kyle Abbott before de Villiers accelerated Middlesex to a decent score.

After reaching 28 off 25 balls , De Villiers hit Shamsi for back-to-back sixes over the leg side before a four from the final ball of the innings handed him a 34-ball half-century.

THE TURNING POINT: Middlesex looked like they had set the hosts challenging chase, but from the moment Aneurin Donald pulverised his first six the match seemed destined to belong to Hampshire.

SHOT OF THE MATCH: Donald’s second maximum sent a portion of the 10,000 strong Ageas Bowl crowd scattering on the square leg berm.

UNSUNG HERO: Mason Crane returned from his injury like he’d never been away.

WHAT’S NEXT: Hampshire travel to basement side Glamorgan on Friday night knowing they have to win - while keeping an eye on what happens elsewhere...