Pothas gives Hampshire early edge

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Edgbaston
Warwickshire v Hampshire
22-25 April (Play starts 1100 BST)
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Hants 310-7(Warks 2pts, Hants 3pts )

Warwickshire v Hampshire commentary

Warwickshire v Hampshire scorecard

Captain Nic Pothas led from the front as Hampshire battled back to edge day one of their County Championship match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Pothas hit an unbeaten 83 as Hampshire recovered from 183-5 to close on 310-7.

Michael Carberry had earlier set the tone for the visitors with 77 before becoming one of Andrew Miller's three victims on his Championship debut.

Six-foot eight Irish paceman Boyd Rankin claimed two wickets as the Bears attack worked hard for their success.

Hampshire had to work hard to secure a first-day foothold after a tricky afternoon session against the home side's young seamers.

Chris Woakes, selected for the England Lions side to meet the West Indians next week, was not at his best with the new ball and Rikki Clarke's first three overs cost 28 runs.

But Miller and Rankin took the bowling plaudits for the Bears.

Rankin, who played for Ireland in the final of the ICC World Cup qualifying tournament in South Africa on Sunday, conceded only a single in his first five overs, but Carberry was able to score freely against less testing bowling at the other end.

The left-hander probably guessed he was on for a good start to the season when the fixture list turned up games against Worcestershire and Warwickshire.

Six of his nine Championship centuries have come against the two Midlands counties and he looked good for another when he cruised to 50 with 10 fours from 72 balls.

But he was out in the last over before lunch, pushing half-forward to give Miller his first Championship success with an edge to keeper Tim Ambrose.

With the ball moving about under cloud cover and half the side gone for 183, Hampshire were in danger of wasting Carberry's enterprise.

But Hampshire looked to Pothas to organise a recovery and the acting captain delivered, hitting 13 fours in a stay that has so far lasted 152 balls.