While 1,800 spectators enjoyed a Rose Bowl adorned by the new £2m pavilion, Leicestershire skipper Vince Wells capitalised on a batting track that seems to have matured into a belter over the winter.

Four championship matches failed to go beyond three days at West End last year but, if yesterday was anything to go by, the 2002 model could be one for batsmen to savour.

After 24 overs, it was all going well for Robin Smith and his bowlers.

John Crawley, ahead of his home debut, was awarded his county cap in the presence of chairman Rod Bransgrove and Graham Walker, the new chief executive, before Hampshire took the field.

Robin Smith had lost the toss but Dimitri Mascarenhas and Derek Kenway took three slip catches between them before lunch to leave the visitors struggling on 72-3.

Alan Mullally and James Hamblin, in for the injured Alex Morris, made early inroads before Neil Johnson removed Iain Sutcliffe.

Mullally bowled the opening first class over against the backdrop of the new pavilion and took the first wicket when he got the ball to leave Trevor Ward with 16 on the board.

Mascarenhas was forced off the field just four balls into his first over of the season but he showed no sign of the back pain to come in helping to remove Ward.

Mascarenhas snaffled a well-taken catch at third slip to see off the veteran opener.

When former England batsman Darren Maddy went for a duck three overs later, caught by Derek Kenway at first slip off the bowling of Hamblin, it looked as though it was going to be Hampshire's day.

It was certainly the home side's session. Kenway's second catch of the morning at first slip gave Neil Johnson the wicket of Iain Sutcliffe.

That brought Vince Wells to the crease and he went on to enjoy the Rose Bowl track, compiling an unbeaten 146 in 249 balls.

Wells, batting against his former Leicestershire team-mates Mullally and Johnson, helped Michael Bevan put on 73 for the third wicket.

Australian overseas star Bevan, who appeared to have been stung by a wasp on the stroke of lunch, appeared disgruntled to be given out in becoming silly mid-off for Kenway's third catch of the day off the bowling of Udal.

But that brought Darren Stevens to the crease as he and Wells dominated for the next 35 overs adding 149 before Stevens became Kendall's first wicket for six years.

Kendall bowled some seam up at Canterbury and was one of seven bowlers used by Smith yesterday.

Mascarenhas was one of those seven but he hobbled off the pitch and into the pavilion in gingerly fashion before lunch.

Mascarenhas has been suffering with an Achilles heel problem and that influenced the decision to leave him out of the side at Kent.

But yesterday he damaged his back, leaving Patrick Farhart with a third casualty to look after with the season less than a week old.

Irfan Shah, the man lined up to replace Shaun Udal, was named as 12th man after Udal proved his fitness following the bruised thumb he suffered in the draw at Canterbury. And it was Shah who helped to bring Stevens' 106-ball knock to an end taking a straightforward catch.

Stevens' 82 was a blistering effort and, in one particulalry aggressive over, he punished Udal with a straight six.

He reached his 50 off 59 balls but was eventually caught by Shah at extra cover.

Wells was the mainstay of the partnership and, at stumps, long after Stevens had departed, he was unbeaten on a 149, 75 runs short of his highest score.