UNDER FIRE: Simon Renshaw is comprehensively bowled - but off a no ball.

Hampshire fall apart at seams ENGLAND raced to a nine-wicket win over Hampshire at Southampton to give themselves the perfect fillip for Friday's World Cup curtain-raiser with Sri Lanka at Lord's.

They made the most of helpful bowling conditions to reduce Hampshire to a paltry 91 all out before Graeme Hick blazed an unbeaten 65 to seal the victory.

Hick dominated an unbroken second-wicket stand of 92 with captain Alec Stewart (20 not out) to win the match in just 20.2 overs, after Nick Knight had been caught behind for a duck off Simon Renshaw.

Earlier, Leicestershire left-armer Alan Mullally had led the way with the ball with 4-20 as Hampshire struggled after being put in to bat on a seaming pitch.

Ian Austin and Mark Ealham backed up Mullally with two wickets apiece and only Adrian Aymes provided any meaning-ful resistance for Hampshire before he was caught by Hick at second slip off Darren Gough for 23 after a 21-over stay.

Lancashire all-rounder Austin began Hampshire's collapse by dismissing both Giles White and Robin Smith in an impressive eight-over new-ball spell of 2-8. Mullally then knocked back John Stephenson's middle pole and outwitted Will Kendall with a slower ball, which was hit straight to the grateful Neil Fairbrother at mid-wicket.

Ealham induced Derek Kenway into edging to Graham Thorpe at slip - a catch which forced the Surrey left-hander off the pitch for precautionary treatment on a bruised finger.

Dimitri Mascarenhas was bowled in Ealham's next over before Mullally returned to trap Alex Morris leg before and leave Hampshire on 47-7.

Aymes, Renshaw and Zac Morris held England up but Andrew Flintoff had ex-Yorkshire all-rounder Morris taken at slip and Mullally had the final word by having last man Steve Lugsden caught behind.

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