Hampshire and Surrey were frustrated by the weather on the first day of their Specsavers County Championship match at the Ageas Bowl.

Play started on time at 10:30am with Surrey being put in by Hampshire captain George Bailey under dark thick clouds. But only five overs, and 20 minutes, of action was possible before bad light and then rain truncated the day’s play.

Rory Burns struck the only boundary of the day, a push down to third man, as he reached nine of Surrey’s 16. Teenager Ryan Patel, on just his second Championship appearance, collected the other seven runs – as strike bowlers Kyle Abbott and Fidel Edwards failed to make a breakthrough in the curtailed time in the middle.

Umpires Mike Burns and Dave Millns called four pitch inspections which all produced a new start time. But for each effort to get back on the field, the rain returned to ruin any chance of any more play.

Burns and Millns eventually gave in to the weather at 4:30pm - with the PA announcer apologising to the fans still mingling around in the ground.

Hampshire first team coach Craig White said: "There isn’t much you can do about that. It is probably one of the most frustrating days we have had. It teased us all day. Where just as we were about to start it started to rain again. I feel sorry for Karl and all the ground staff. On a day like this it is probably one of the worst jobs you can have. They have done a great effort today though.

"Essex have leapt ahead in the table so realistically it is there’s to lose but you never know if we can sneak three wins and there is a lot of weather around. I have asked the boys to dig deep in the remaining games and see where it takes us and aim to finish in the top three."

LUNCH REPORT

Only five overs were possible on the opening morning of the Specsavers County Championship match between Surrey and Hampshire.

Hampshire captain George Bailey won the toss and decided to bowl under thick grey clouds at the Ageas Bowl. But strike bowlers Fidel Edwards and Kyle Abbott failed to take a wicket before bad light and then the rain came down.

Rory Burns struck the only boundary, a push down to third man, as he reached nine of Surrey’s 16, with teenager Ryan Patel collecting seven runs. Two re-scheduled start times were drawn up, but hazy rain return both times to bring about an early lunch.

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