THE BRIT OVAL

(Day one of four: Surrey won toss)

Hampshire 116-2 v Surrey

Lunch

Play began half an hour late at 11am because of some damp patches on the outfield whereupon Surrey elected to bowl first on what proved a lively pitch with a greenish hue.

Shoaib Akhtar, the Pakistan fast bowler signed for the rest of the season as their overseas player, began with a rapid bouncer with his first delivery, only narrowly avoided by Michael Carberry. Shoaib, operating off his long run, looked somewhat short of match fitness and, although he produced some quick balls in a four-over opening spell, was a little wayward, conceding 16 runs before being replaced by Pedro Collins.

Jade Dernbach bowled tidily from the Pavilion End, but it took the introduction of Alex Tudor to make the breakthrough in the 14th over. With his second ball, the former England pace bowler forced Michael Brown onto the back foot and bowled him off an inside edge for 16, breaking an opening stand of 47.

Michael Lumb, two not out, joined Carberry, 27 not out, seeing Hampshire through to lunch without further alarm.

Tea

Shoaib Akhtar took his first wicket for Surrey when he had Michael Carberry caught behind for 31 in a very rapid spell immediately after lunch, to leave Hampshire 60 for two in the 24th over.

Akhtar, having switched from the Vauxhall to the Pavilion end, found much better rhythm and was hitting Jon Batty’s gloves very hard when Carberry was drawn forward and got a faint edge. It was no more than the Pakistan fast bowler deserved after running in hard off his very lengthy run-up.

His second four-over spell cost just seven runs and was an improvement on his first of the same length before lunch.

Although Alex Tudor also bowled nicely, Surrey could make no further inroads into the Hampshire batting. Chris Benham, unbeaten with 28, and Michael Lumb, 29 not out, added an unbroken 46 in 15 overs together before the umpires took the players off for bad light at 2.45, the second interruption of the afternoon after a brief one between 2.00 and 2.14pm.

Rain, although admittedly not heavy, made prospects for further play after tea look bleak.