ENGLAND and Wales cricket Board pitch liaison officer Tony Brown inissted he was happy with the state of the Rose Bowl wicket.

Brown was sent to West End after 15 wickets fell on day one but he was happy with the track despite the fall of 30 wickets in two days.

He said: "There's nothing wrong with the wicket, I didn't see anything untoward and the umpires didn't feel that there was anything wrong on the first day either.

"There were some poor shots played and the ball that Chris Tremlett bowled to David Hussey was down to good bowling.

"I've not had many complaints. I spoke to Mark Ealham who said there had been some poor cricket played and some not very good shots. Ealham and Hussey batted sensibly and convinced me that the ball that got Hussey was just a good ball."

Hampshire skipper Shane Warne added: "The wicket is the worst one we've played on here this year, but that's no excuse.

"I thought 150 was going to be real tough to chase last so the 15 minutes before lunch on day one, when we lost two quick wickets after being 3 for 100, cost us big time."

l Hampshire's second XI prepared for today's Trophy match against Somerset at Taunton with a 197-run one day victory in a friendly match against the Royal Navy on the Rose Bowl's Nursery ground.

Former Sussex bat Dominic Clapp (85), whose trial has been extended until the end of the month, put on a mammoth 173 for the first wicket with Kevin Latouf (78) as Hampshire amassed 322 for 3 from their 45 overs.

Zimbabwean Greg Lamb (40 not out) added 55 with Surrey trialist Andrew Hollingsworth (60 not out) in an unbroken fourth wicket partnership, before taking 3 for 11 in five overs as the Royal Navy were bowled out for 125.

Matthew Metcalfe (3-34) and David Griffiths (3-20) also contributed as the Royal Navy were bowled out in 39.5 overs.