IT HAD to come to an end sometime. And Hampshire's unbeaten start to the season duly came to a shuddering halt at a sun-kissed Old Trafford yesterday.

After beginning the season unbeaten in seven games in all competitions, Hampshire were outclassed by the country's other form side.

Lancashire Lightning beat the Hampshire Hawks by seven wickets with more than 13 overs to spare on the hottest day of the year.

Hampshire had fallen a long way short of a competitive total on a flat Old Trafford track, losing FOUR wickets in just 12 balls, before Lancashire made quick work of reaching the 190 runs needed for victory.

The result never looked in doubt when three of the in-form Dimitri Mascarenhas' first four balls went to the boundary after Hampshire had closed on a below par 189 for 9.

Mascarenhas was hauled off after just one over as stand-in skipper Will Kendall used five bowlers inside the first ten.

Alan Mullally knocked back Iain Sutcliffe's off stump in his second and Lancashire were 66-2 when Stephen Crook hit Chris Tremlett straight to Kendall at cover in the 11th.

But that heralded a 98-run partnership between Stuart Law and Mark Chilton in just 15 overs.

Law, who was eventually caught by Billy Taylor at mid-on, was sublime in reaching his fifty from 51 balls.

The Queenslander's 74-ball 83 included a six and two fours from four Shaun Udal deliveries.

At least Shane Watson, who has only recently joined a Queensland side Law has just left after becoming the state's highest-ever runscorer, had a solid debut.

Watson had been dropped at deep square leg by Dominic Cork, having scored just two after going in at the fall of the first wicket.

But he made 23 from 32 balls before he was caught behind - and then went for a respectable 39 from his nine overs.

But as well as another 50-plus runs, Hampshire badly missed the leg spin of Shane Warne.

Even with their captain in the side, though, their 189-9 would not have been enough.

Conditions were perfect for batting and it was no surprise when Kendall asked Lancashire to field first after winning the toss.

But after a solid start, the Hawks lost a flurry of wickets just when they needed to accelerate their run rate.

Nic Pothas looked set to follow his man of the match performance at Yorkshire in the championship with his second half century in as many National League games before he was caught behind after top edging an attempted cut.

Hampshire were still on course for a score of at least 200 after reaching 135 for 3 with ten overs left.

But Michael Clarke became the first of four Hampshire wickets to fall in 12 balls when he was caught at mid-wicket by Carl Hooper.

Clarke batted magnificenty for his 54, striking Kyle Hogg for a six over long off before reaching his fifty - his second in three Totesport League innings - off just 51 balls by pulling Hooper for his third and final four.

But Hooper took his revenge in the next over, when Clarke chipped Sajid Mahmood straight to him, and then the West Indian had Kendall caught at deep mid-wicket with the last ball of his fourth over.

It got worse for Hampshire when Mahmood, who had earlier been clipped for six by Pothas, produced a double wicket maiden, trapping Lawrie Prittipaul lbw for a golden duck and having Udal caught after hooking straight to square leg.

Suddenly Hampshire were 152 for 7.

Chris Tremlett soon followed, caught at mid on in the first over of Glen Chapple's second spell.

Then Alan Mullally, promoted to number ten after his 15-ball 22 not out at in the championship win at Headingley, lost his off stump to Crook.

Frustratingly, Mascarenhas had seen five wickets fall from the bowler's end as Lancashire succeeded in keeping him from the strike. But he at least restored a little pride when he struck a six over mid-wicket and a four off the final ball of the innings, as Hampshire took 17 runs off the final over from Chapple.