Nic Pothas described this week's Rose Bowl track as "a thousand times better than last year" after finishing unbeaten on 44 against Yorkshire yesterday.

Pothas went into Hampshire's first home game of the season at the top of the averages after his electric start to the season with the bat.

And he inisted that Hampshire's collapse to 175 all out was not down to any demons in the wicket.

Hampshire's wicketkeeper said: "There's a little bit in the wicket and it's very slow but it's far better than last year.

"Now it's a good cricket wicket, there's something in it for bowlers and batsman.

"Last year it was a bit one-sided but as long as the contest is even between bat and ball, that's all you want. We've made a pact in the changing room this year that the wicket is what the wicket is, we'll do our best whatever. We're not going to let it be the focus."

Pothas, who watched six Hampshire wickets fall while he was at the crease, added: "We've got to apply ourselves a little bit more but we didn't have much luck when we were bowling or when we batted.

"We thought that Simon Katich's dismissal was touch and go, but you're going to get those. Simon has been brillaint in the changing room, he's fitted in superbly well and has looked in good touch, he was just unfortunate with the run out.

"Overall they had the luck -they played and missed a whole load, but there was a chance that it was going to come off so credit to them.

"It's not like we bowled badly, they batted nicely.

"We play cricket to win and there's still a chance. With the bad weather looming you never know what's going to happen but it's only May, there's a long way to go."

OTHER SCORES

Frizzell County Championship Division One

Grace Road: Essex 188 v Leics 185-7 (D I Stevens 65).

The AMP Oval: Warwicks 413 (M A Wagh 136, T Frost 78, N V Knight 58) v Surrey 237-4 (A J Hollioake 87 no).

Hove: Sussex 279 (C J Adams 54, A Sheriyar 5-65) & 174-9 (M W Goodwin 96) v Kent 185.

Division Two

Derby: Derbyshire 190 (A R Caddick 4-66, R L Johnson 4-47) & 38-0 v Somerset 397 (J Cox 126, M E Trescothick 69, D G Cork 5-74).

Riverside: Gloucs 341 (R C Russell 65, J N Rhodes 60, T H C Hancock 59, D R Law 4-30) v Durham 128-7.

New Road: Worcs 236 (V S Solanki 79, B F Smith 50, J A R Blain 5-84, B J Phillips 4-45) v Northamptonshire 196-3 (P A Jaques 86 no).