HAMPSHIRE began their week of pre-season friendlies with a day to forget against Essex at Chelmsford yesterday.

Hampshire were bowled out for 139, but continued to bat and closed on 198 for the loss of 14 wickets before Essex rattled up a remarkable 357 for 1.

Former England bowler Alex Tudor, who took 4 for 5 from his six overs, and Darren Gough revelled in the seam-friendly conditions after Essex won the toss.

Hampshire batsman Chris Benham was twice out first ball, while captain Shaun Udal top scored with 64 and took the only Essex wicket.

England under-19 opener Alistair Cook went to hospital for X-rays after being struck by a Chris Tremlett bouncer from the first ball of the home reply before Ronnie Irani and the Zimbabwean Flower brothers cut loose.

Irani, the former England one-day international all-rounder, made 102 before he was stumped by Nic Pothas, while Grant Flower blazed his way to an unbeaten 164, and Andy made 72 not out.

Kevin Pietersen was left out of the side yesterday but could make his debut against Kent, the county he turned down in favour of a move to Hampshire, at Canterbury today.

Hampshire manager Paul Terry said: "We were a bit rusty and were on the back foot from the start.

"Essex have already played quite a few games and a few of our guys didn't get in but the bonus was that we played 100 overs, because the forecast wasn't great."

MATCH STATS

Hampshire 139 all out off 38.2 overs (Adams 5, Brown 4, Benham 0, Crawley 15, Kenway 0, Pothas 4, Lamb 16, Udal 56 no, Tremlett 27, Logan 1, Bruce 7. Gough 6-2-17-1, Tudor 6-2-5-4, Napier 5.2-1-11-2, Bishop 7-1-31-2, Middlebrook 8-0-36-0, ten Doeschate 5-0-28-1, G. Flower 1-0-10-0)

Hampshire batted on to complete their 50 overs, scoring 59-4 off 11.4 overs.

(Udal 8, Adams 5, Brown 25 no, Benham 0, Crawley 9, Kenway 5 not out. Tudor 2-0-3-0, Napier 2.4-1-14-3, Bishop 3-0-5-0, ten Doeschate 3-0-33-1, Grayson 1-0-3-0)

Essex 357 for 1 off 50 overs

(Cook 0 retired hurt, Irani 102, G. Flower 164 no, A. Flower 72 no. Bowling: Tremlett 10-1-39-0, Logan 10-1-64-0, Bruce 10-0-80-0, Adams 5-0-33-0, Udal 10-0-61-1, Lamb 5-0-70-0)

Result: Essex won by ten wickets (passing Hampshire's ten-wicket total after 22.5 overs)

Irani - 82 balls (14 x 4, 4 x 6)

G Flower - 161 balls (25 x 4, 4 x 6)

A Flower - 58 balls (8 x 4, 3 x 6)