On a day which was forecast to be thwarted by weather, Hampshire will be satisfied with their work on the first day of the Frizzell County Championship match against second-placed Leicestershire.

Only five overs were lost shortly after Hampshire were bowled out for a commendable 311, taking the match to close of play.

It looked unlikely Hampshire would reach that stage when they lost half the side with just 113 on the board, despite Giles White and Will Kendall posting a half-century opening stand – 52 being the highest of the season.

But Kendall survived two dropped catches, the first before he had scored and the second when on four, both occasions edging to second slip and Darren Maddy's failed hands.

It was a slow start as Phil DeFreitas bowled with his vast experience on show, but without success as the medium-pace of Maddy accounted for White leg before. Kendall followed shortly after to Matt Whiley, who endured an otherwise poor day with the ball, throwing down no fewer than 17 no-balls.

Spinner Carl Crowe received two easy dismissals after lunch when Robin Smith loosely cut to DeFreitas and Neil Johnson was stumped. John Francis, in his first game for Hampshire this season, edged to Michael Bevan to reduce the visitors to 113-5.

However, John Crawley was standing tall at the other end and with Nic Pothas rebuilt the innings as both reached half-centuries before the former shouldered arms and was bowled for the second time in the space of a week.

Pothas received valuable support from Dimitri Mascarenhas (22) and Shaun Udal (23). The South African-Greek hit 11 fours in a solid 63 (95 balls).

Chris Tremlett, alongside Udal furthered the Hampshire score with a 58-run stand for the ninth wicket, taking it past an unlikely 300 mark, given their early troubles.

Maddy accounted for Tremlett (28) and as the players left the field, the rain that began to threaten came, ensuring Leicestershire did not begin their innings.

But 311 on this wicket, which is not of the highest standard, could be enough to put Hampshire in view of only their second Championship victory of the season.

© Hampshire Cricket