Carberry makes hay in the Kidderminster sun

Michael Carberry hit an emotionally-charged third Championship hundred of the season - then dedicated it to his late grandfather.

Carberry wore a black armband during his 127, which spanned five hours, in memory of his grandfather Clarence, who died of cancer in Barbados on Monday evening.

The ninth first-class hundred of Carberry's career helped Hampshire reach 349-5 on the first day of their important Championship match against relegated Worcestershire at Kidderminster.

Carberry said: "It was an emotional day for me. I never met my grandfather but he's always been a phone call away and has followed my career from the Caribbean.

"He's been ill for a while but it weas good to get the hundred. It's dedicated to him."

Carberry's ton was the high point of an enjoyable day in the Kidderminster sun for Hampshire, whose batsmen enjoyed something of an Indian summer.

The 26-year-old shared 142, the county's highest stand of the year, with Jimmy Adams. The left handed pair capitalised on the conditions against a weak Worcestershire attack missing Matt Mason and now Kabir Ali.

The pitch is a good one - especially by outground standards - and with the weather forecast excellent for the next few days Shane Warne did not hesitate to bat first after winning the toss.

The prospect of significant turn in Worcestershire's second innings has made Warne's quicker-than-expected return to fitness even more of a boon and Hampshire's captain received the biggest cheer of the day when he trotted up the pavilion steps just after tea.

Superstars are a rare sight in these parts - although Jan Molby, another sporting heavyweight, was once the manager of Kidderminster Harriers.

Warne's presence and the fine weather helped outweigh the negatives of Worcestershire's relegation, which was confirmed by Hampshire's defeat to Surrey on Sunday, and the end of the school holidays in attracting a healthy crowd to Chester Road North, which is normally home to Birmingham and District Premier League side Kidderminster Victoria.

They were treated to Hampshire's second-biggest opening stand of the season.

Carberry and Michael Brown put on 133 against the same opponents at the Rose Bowl last month and managed 111 before the latter was run out for 47 before lunch.

The fabled opening pair of Barry Richards and Gordon Greenidge put on 113 in Hampshire's only previous visit to Kidderminster in 1971, but Carberry and Brown fell just short of that folowing a direct hit by Daryl Mitchell at cover.

No matter.

Adams helped Carberry add a further 142 in 37 overs for the second wicket, Hampshire's biggest stand of the season by any pair (the previous best was the 138 that Michael Brown and John Crawley shared against Surrey at the Brit Oval in the opening match of the season).

Carberry was particularly impressive.

Three of his 20 fours were hit in succession against the slow left arm of Ray Price as he reached his hundred from 202 balls.

Jimmy Adams has been outstanding since his call up from the second XI for the draw at Old Trafford a fortnight ago.

Carberry's fellow left hander followed his 110 against Surrey last week with a clinical 80 from 119 balls before he became the first of four Hampshire wickets to fall in 17 overs for 45 runs by chipping a leading edge to mid-off two overs before tea.

The five Hampshire wickets to fall were down to misjudgements rather than good bowling and John Crawley was no exception, run out in bizarre fashion in the third over of the final session.

Having thought he had beaten the slips with a late cut against Mitchell's medium pace, he wandered out of his crease only to be dismissed by a direct hit from Ben Smith, who had made an excellent reaction stop.

Carberry himself followed five overs later, becoming one of Roger Sillence's two victims when he was caught down the leg side.

Then Nic Pothas, having been dropped on 0 by Graeme Hick at gully, sent a steepling catch to mid-off, where Worcestershire captain Gareth Batty took a tumbling catch.

Michael Lumb faced 15 balls before scoring his first run but he and Sean Ervine took Hampshire to within 51 runs of maximum batting points by the close.