COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, The Rose Bowl:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY ONE: Hampshire 298-7
Hants 2pts, Essex 2pts
Match scorecard

McKenzie has played 58 Test matches for South Africa

Neil McKenzie and Dominic Cork shared a seventh-wicket stand of 100 to help Hampshire recover against Essex on day one at The Rose Bowl.

Michael Carberry (50) and James Vince (44) looked to have put the home side in a position of strength at 168-3.

However when Vince fell to Maurice Chambers (2-48) the hosts lost three wickets for 12 runs to slip to 190-6.

McKenzie (83) and Cork (54 not out) then intervened to help Hampshire to 298-7 at the close.

After captain Nic Pothas, standing in after more injury problems to Dimitri Mascarenhas, won the toss, Hampshire made good progress on an easy-paced pitch despite opener Jimmy Adams edging Chambers to wicketkeeper James Foster early on.

Carberry and Michael Lumb (31) took the score to 84 but the hosts were pegged back when Lumb was bowled by Danish Kaneria and Carberry mistimed a drive off David Masters into the hands off Jaik Mickleburgh.

Vince looked in superb touch before offering a return catch to Chambers and, when Kaneria accounted for Sean Ervine and Ravi Bopara trapped Pothas lbw, Hampshire were in trouble.

But McKenzie, along with Cork, repaired the damage and looked set for a century until his defences were breached by Bopara.

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