Scott Newman’s 111 off 134 balls, which included sixteen fiercely-struck boundaries, plus an assured 59 not out from Dominic Thornely topped and tailed a positive opening day performance by Surrey at the Rose Bowl. For entertainment value it was worth everything that was served up in four days at Lord’s last week, and some. Sadly, though, Newman and Thornely’s exploits were overshadowed by a heated exchange between the Hampshire skipper, Shane Warne, and umpire Alan Whitehead.

It all kicked off in the fourth over when an appeal for a catch behind off Billy Taylor was turned down. Newman appeared to play well inside the ball, but Warne saw things very differently and gave vent to his spleen. He and Whitehead, who is an umpire with a reputation for not suffering fools gladly, then appeared to trade verbal insults. The row was so boisterous, play was held up at the end of the over when the argument resumed.

Twenty-eight overs had already been lost in the morning to rain. If Warne’s intention was to unruffle the Surrey openers it failed miserably. After winning the toss Newman and Clinton had put 63 runs on the board inside eleven overs. Their intention to make up for lost time was never clearer than when Richard Clinton slog-wept the Australian leg-spinner out of the ground for six in the fourteenth over.

When Hampshire entertained Middlesex at the Rose Bowl back in early May, Kiwi all-rounder Scott Styris described the wicket as “junk”. The one for this match appears to be no different. The ball kept low with increasing regularity. Consequently, batting fourth is unlikely to be a comfortable proposition. In the context of the game, therefore, Surrey’s opening partnership of 100 in twenty overs could yet prove to be pivotal.

It ended when Clinton, sweeping, gave a looping bat-pad catch to Greg Lamb at first slip off Warne. Graham Thorpe drove the second delivery he received through extra cover and, three overs later, despatched Lamb’s occasional off-spin through backward point. But then the stand-in Surrey captain failed to control a lifting ball from Chris Tremlett and was caught at second slip.

Scott Newman’s fourth championship hundred of the season came off just 109 deliveries, but five overs later he lost Rikki Clarke, who was caught off a top-edged pull. Newman, who had lives on 78 and 86, fell to Taylor – who, curiously, had bowled just three overs prior to tea – immediately following the interval.

Alistair Brown brought up the first of Surrey’s three batting points by making his first boundary a six over mid-wicket off the bowling of Tremlett. His second, a four straight back past McMillan, took him to 24. But, then, two more wickets fell in the space of three overs, both of them to the tall left-arm seamer.

Jonathan Batty got the ball too high on the bat, and was caught and bowled, ahead of Brown being struck on the back leg. Thornely and Bicknell then combined for 44 runs in eight overs for Surrey’s seventh-wicket.

Martin Bicknell opened his account with four affirmative off-side boundaries before Dominic Thornely got in on the act by cover driving his first boundary, a full nine overs after arriving at the crease. The 26-year-old Aussie followed it up with two more off-side fours in the same over, bowled by Ervine, whose fifteen overs went for 74 runs.

Bicknell went in Taylor’s fifth over, the 63rd of the innings, when he fenced at the former Sussex man and was caught behind. But Thornely, who looked wasted at number seven in the order, found a useful ally in Jimmy Ormond. The former Leicestershire man kept him company for eleven overs. But within sight of the close Ormond, who was struck on the left shoulder by Tremlett, was caught at slip off a leading edge.

Dominic Thornely had no intention of playing for stumps, though. He drove the first ball of final over, bowled by Warne, through extra cover and launched the next straight down the ground for a maximum. The fourth delivery also disappeared through the off-side to leave the visitors in a position of some strength at the end of day one and Warne to reflect on a sorry day at the office.

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