Day 1: no play

Day 2: Hampshire make early impression

By D J Rutnagur at Southampton

Second day of four: Northants 35-2 v Hampshire

HAMPSHIRE, who elected to bowl first, had the better of the 16 overs' play the weather allowed at Northlands Road. Richard Montgomerie, who spent half of last season out of the first team, was an early casualty, caught at gulley from a sliced drive at Simon Renshaw in the third over.

His opening partner, Alec Swann, who had played a couple of neat shots off his legs at Cardigan Connor, fell two overs from the end, lbw to John Stephenson.

Hampshire, whose tally of bowling points was the smallest of all counties in 1997, are still awaiting the arrival of their overseas signing, Nixon McLean, and their other new recruit Peter Hartley was out with a groin strain.

There are two more pace bowlers on Hampshire's injury list, the Channel Islander Lee Savident, recovering from cartilege surgery and the Dane, Thomas Hansen. Hansen, who played in the county's last match of 1997 and bowled respectably while Graeme Hick was running amok, is on crutches with a stress fracture in the foot. In the circumstances Connor, whose last match was 11 months ago, was used.

Day 4: Malcolm's efforts are not enough

By D J Rutnagur at Southampton

Northants (275-5 dec & forfeited) drew with Hampshire (forfeited & 193-8)

DEVON Malcolm struck fire from a pitch of little pace and bounce and, in the form of five wickets for 60, sent a strong signal to the England selectors.

Although Malcolm, striking thrice in his new-ball spell, and Franklyn Rose, twice, reduced Hampshire to 54 for five within 20 overs, Northamptonshire, who had set their hosts 276 to win from 76 overs, failed to press home their advantage. They were frustrated by a partnership of 96 between Matthew Keech and Kevan James that spanned 38 overs.

There might have been a different tale to tell if Keech, then 17 in a total of 50 for four, had been held at third slip off Malcolm shortly after lunch. Keech stayed in for 196 minutes to score 67, but 18 overs still remained when he holed out off Rob Bailey and Alec Swann, who had let off Keech, took a diving catch at midwicket.

But James, with staunch support from Adrian Aymes, held the fort until Malcolm returned for a final burst of five overs and induced a snick. Two balls later, he bowled Shaun Udal.