LAWRIE PRITTIPAUL passed a major personal milestone as a mix-and-match Hampshire XI defeated Cardiff UCCE by 95 runs at the Rose Bowl yesterday.

The all-rounder, pictured above, ended a first class match with a combined total of more than100 runs for the first time in a first class match for the county since his maiden - and so far only - century (152) against Derbyshire at Northlands Road in September 2000.

In the intervening 20 first class matches since that momentous moment, the highest aggregate Prittipaul had managed was 95 runs against Somerset in August 2003 (39 & 56).

Prittipaul followed up his first innings unbeaten 55 (off 74 balls) with an identical score in the second innings (this time off 97 deliveries) as Hampshire reached 146-6 declared before skipper Dimi Mascarenhas declared.

The students, who trailed by 130 runs on first innings, were therefore set 277 for victory and were bowled out for 181.The bowling honours were shared throughout in both innings.

Most successful Hampshire bowler in the three-day match was winter signing Richard Logan, who returned match figures of 5-80, while James Bruce and Shaul Udal both claimed four wickets in the match.

Apart from Prittipaul, the Hampshire batsman who will be most pleased with his performance is probably Chris Benham.

The youngster, on a full Rose Bowl contract in 2005 for the first time, followed up a first innings 29 with a second innings top score of 65.

Benham, who struck 74 on his county Championship debut at Derbyshire in the final game of 2004, is one of a handful of batsmen desperate for good early-season runs to put themselves in contention for a top order slot once Simon Katich and Kevin Pietersen are called away on international duty in June.

Benham, Prittipaul, South African Jono McLean, former 1st XI regular Derek Kenway and Zimbabwean Greg Lamb are all competing for those two positions.

Kenway (36 & 2) and McLean (25 & 0) would be disappointed they didn't make more use of their chances while Lamb, who played a handful of one-day games last season for the 1st XI before starring on his Championship debut at Derby with 94, scored just 11 in his one innings against the students.

Hampshire will be hoping Derbyshire can give Northants a tiring day in the field today ahead of tomorrow's totesport League clash at Northampton.

While most of Hampshire's senior players have had a week off, Northants have been in Championship action at Derbyshire and, after forcing their hosts to follow on 210 runs adrift, saw Derbyshire fight back last night to finish on 119-0 - still 91 runs adrift of making Northants bat again.

Shane Warne hits out - 'why I'll never apologise for the way my Hampshire team plays' - see tonight's Pink, plus Simon Katich and Kevin Pietersen exclusives and why ex-Aussie bowler Rodney Hogg is tipping Warne to rewrite the Ashes record books later this summer.