HAMPSHIRE officials are confident they're in for a big pay-day after bumper crowds flocked to The Rose Bowl for the opening two days of the Vodafone Challenge Series with the Australians.

Chief executive Tony Baker reported that they hoped to net "a six figure sum" after attendances of 5,900 on Saturday and around 5,600 on Sunday for the lucrative tour match.

The old Northlands Road ground could only hold 4,000 spectators and Baker said: "We're delighted with how it has gone so far."

There was still some traffic congestion on the roads leading to the West End ground but Baker conceded this was a problem that was out of the club's hands.

Basking in glorious sunshine on two of the hottest days of the year, spectators were treated to some tremendous cricket, including Saturday's dramatic collapse by the illustrious tourists, whose first innings folded to a paltry 97 - their lowest score against an English county in 16 years.

"The guys were pretty disappointed about the effort in the dressing-room on Saturday," said Australia's Matthew Hayden, who had a season with Hampshire back in 1997.

"It was a poor result for us. We expected things to happen, but conditions were tough out there for the morning session.

"Full credit to Hampshire, they are a good bowling side. We expected them to be tough and they played well."