Hampshire lost late wickets after making a promising start to their match with Worcestershire

Worcestershire took three late wickets to reduce Hampshire to 119-4 at stumps after a rain-shortened opening day of their LV= County Championship Division One encounter.

Rain washed out the morning’s play but the action finally got underway at the Ageas Bowl at 3pm, Worcestershire deciding to field first after winning the toss.

Hampshire openers Jimmy Adams and Liam Dawson put together a watchful and productive opening stand of 88 which was broken by Worcestershire seamer Ed Barnard, who claimed a maiden first class wicket on his debut when Dawson (39) poked a catch to Daryl Mitchell.

The in-form Michael Carberry (14) then joined his captain and the duo took the score to 112 but former England opener Carberry was then caught behind by Ben Cox off a lively Jack Shantry delivery with 4.4 overs of the day remaining.

In the next over Adams departed for 48, trapped lbw by Joe Leach (2-42) just before he could complete a fourth half century of the season.

And, on the very last ball of the day, night watchman James Tomlinson (5) was dismissed lbw by Leach to cap an excellent end to the day for the visitors.

Worcestershire debutant Barnard said: "There were a few nerves jangling around when I got the nod but at the end of the day it's just another game.

"It was a great last 45 minutes but I think we deserved it after the way we bowled throughout the day.

"I think 250 will be a decent score but our aim will be to keep them under 200."

At Lord’s, Middlesex seamer Steven Finn took three wickets in a fiery opening spell as their Division One clash with Warwickshire got underway.

But Finn could not remove his former England team mate Jonathan Trott, who made 44 not out as Warwickshire reached 148-3 at stumps.

After a wet start to the day, play got underway at 3pm and Middlesex opted to field first.

Finn’s first three overs went for 24 runs but he hinted at the problems he was set to cause by having Ateeq Javid dropped at third slip.

Finn (3-49) then had Varun Chopra (14) well held low at second slip by Ollie Rayner and Jonathon Webb (14) caught at short leg by Sam Robson off a nasty lifter.

And Robson then took a smart bat-pad catch to remove Javid for 18.

However, in the 10th and last over of Finn’s fine opening spell, Laurie Evans was dropped on nought at leg-slip by Eoin Morgan.

That would have made it 56-4 and Middlesex have been made to pay for the spurned chance, Evans (41 not out) going on to help Trott put together an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 92 in 33 overs.

Finn said after the close of play: "I've felt good all season with my bowling, although I've been a little bit unlucky at times in terms of picking up wickets.

"But it has felt like I've been bowling well and I've not been too fussed about taking wickets, because the team has been winning matches.

"My opening spell today was the best I've bowled all summer though."