Simon Katich scored three championship centuries for Durham during his last full season of county cricket in 2000.

And now he is off the mark for Hampshire, after rescuing his new county with a chanceless 101 not out against his former employers.

Katich's maiden Hampshire ton was as good as it could have been against a Durham side already shorn of Steve Harmison, Paul Collingwood and Ian Pattison.

So when Dewald Pretorius, the in-form South African fast bowler, limped out of the visitors' attack with a hamstring strain after bowling just four overs, the Hampshire batsmen must have felt it was going to be their day.

It certainly began well - John Crawley elected to bat after winning his TENTH toss in his 12th game as Hampshire captain in all cricket.

But Crawley and Derek Kenway had to battle early on, when the Rose Bowl wicket is at its most bowler friendly, rain having delayed the start until midday.

Derek Kenway struggled to take his recent form into the match - he faced 48 balls for his eight before he poked at a ball outside off stump in the first over after lunch.

And Crawley soon followed, trapped leg before by Danny Law on the back foot. The wicket, which is enjoying a far better year than 2002, became increasingly batter friendly after 16 overs were lost at the start of the day.

But Law certainly enjoyed his first day's play at the Rose Bowl since taking a career best 6-53 against Hampshire in the championship two years ago.

He was involved in all four wickets to fall, taking three of them and effecting the run out.

Robin Smith was caught at third slip after prodding forward to the former Sussex man, who also ended Katich's 90-run partnership with Will Kendall by running out the former Hampshire vice-captain from fine leg.

Kendall had been dropped at first slip when he was on one, a low chance offered by edging 18-year-old Liam Plunkett.

He looked in good touch for his 33 before making the mistake of underestimating Law's arm by returning for a second.

Law bowled at a good pace in taking 3-46 from the pavilion end, but Katich held firm. The 27-year-old made up for missing out on a century at Bristol last month - he made 96 against Gloucestershire, after replacing Kenway at the crease.

His driving was faultless and his cutting and pulling imperious against the weakened attack. His first 50 came off just 67 balls and by the close of play he had faced 176 deliveries for his unbeaten 101, an innings that included 13 boundaries.

Katich reached his hundred with a single from off-spinner Nicky Phillips shortly before rain ended play eight overs early.

But it was the in-form Nic Pothas who dominated the unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 87, reaching his latest 50 in just 89 balls.

Pothas is drawing ever closer to the 500-run mark with just a third of the season gone and looked set for his second Hampshire ton at the close.