WARWICKSHIRE ARE 353-5 AFTER 119.4 OVERS (LOUDON 41*, STREAK 5*)

There was plenty of poker played by Hampshire's players yesterday, as rain meant only 29.2 overs were possible at The Rose Bowl.

A mixture of thunder and lightning, hail, torrential rain and bright sunshine resulted in a stop-start day, during which Hampshire took the wickets of centurion Darren Maddy (123) and Tim Ambrose (32) before Warwickshire closed on 353-5.

Warwickshire resumed on 267-3 and added 86-2 before a final downpour saw play abandoned for the day at 4.30pm.

In the corresponding fixture last season, Warwickshire's first win at the Rose Bowl in any competition effectively put the lid on Hampshire's title hopes for another year.

There is still time for a run of results to put Hampshire in contention this season but 12th man Tom Burrows is not able to bat in this match so they will effectively be one wicket down before they begin their reply.

It could be worse.

Burrows needed treatment for several minutes after being struck on the chest by a James Bruce delivery at the end of the first full over of the day.

The second XI wicketkeeper replaced Nic Pothas on Sunday afternoon after arriving from Lancing College, where he was playing for a PCA XI against the Sussex Academy.

So there were a few furrowed brows when he misjudged some late movement and was knocked off his feet by Bruce.

Thankfully, he did not become the second Hampshire wicketkeeper to suffer a serious injury in as many days but a bad morning continued when Dimitri Mascarenhas put down Alex Loudon on six at extra cover.

Chris Tremlett was the unfortunate bowler but he was rewarded with the scalp of Maddy in the afternoon - in the second over after a two-and-a-half hour rain break.

A stoic effort from the Warwickshire captain lasted 263 balls and included 16 fours, but shortly afterwards Hampshire's frustration continued when Ambrose was well caught by a diving Chris Benham at third slip off a Tremlett no ball.

Ambrose was on 0 at the time, but made 32 before a beauty from Mascarenhas beat his indeterminate prod forward and struck the top of off stump after pitching on middle and leg.