There was only a ten-minute delay to the start despite the wet conditions that had prevailed earlier in the morning at Southgate.

After deciding to make first use of a wicket that was cut only about an hour or so before the start, as water had leaked under the covers on the pitch that was first intended for use, Hampshire began poorly.

They lost the first wicket on 29 when Neil Johnson dabbed a ball on to his stumps and a run later Dimitri Mascarenhas went without scoring. Chad Keegan had picked up both wickets.

Hampshire's highest partnership came for the third wicket with 66 added between James Laney and Derek Kenway. They picked up the scoring rate which had fallen to the extent that after the first boundary of the innings had been struck in the first over, the second didn't come until the 17th.

Kenway continued with his big hitting while wickets fell at the other end. After Laney's dismissal on 96, Hampshire lost four wickets for 43 when Kenway's lofted shot was held at deep mid-wicket. His 65 had come from 77 balls and included four boundaries and a six over long-off.

The end of the Hampshire innings came rapidly with Keegan running through three wickets in the 44th over, all on the total of 164. Robin Smith remained not out with 18 as his team finished on 171 for nine in the allotted 45 overs.

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