Neil Johnson's fifth half-century in six first-class innings brightened a day blighted by rain and bad light.

At the end of the first day Hampshire had 207 for seven from 68.5 overs after Robin Smith had chosen to bat first.

Only 12 overs were possible before lunch and in total 36 overs of the scheduled allocation were wiped out by the weather. In between the showers Hampshire struggled to come to terms with the extra movement and three batsmen were guilty of misjudgement in losing their wickets.

Tim Munton made the best use of the pitch to finish with figures of three for 42 from 19 overs, bowling Giles White with a ball which cut back and hit the off stump and then ending Johnson's fluent innings of 59 when he trapped him lbw not offering a shot. Lawrence Prittipaul also failed to make a shot from another delivery by Munton which bowled him.

The best stand of the day was 67 in 18 overs between Smith and Johnson for the fourth wicket. Smith hit six fours with all his old power on the offside in his 38 before he was undone by a spinner, not for the first time in his otherwise distinguished career.

Johnson hit ten fours in 91 balls but his dismissal in the over after tea precipitated something of a minor collapse and Hampshire were happy when played was called off early as black clouds circled.

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