ONLY 25 balls were possible at the Ageas Bowl where Hampshire quickly rattled up 42-0 against Worcestershire in a match eventually abandoned due to heavy showers.

Spectators huddled under cover for much of the afternoon as groundsman Nigel Gray and his assistants attempted to mop up the pools of water which formed around the wicket and in the outfield after a succession of morning downpours.

Eventually, after five-and-a-quarter hours of waiting, umpires Mark Benson and Nick Cook decided play was possible, beginning at 7.15pm in gathering gloom and with more showers threatening.

Worcestershire won the toss and their captain Daryl Mitchell decided to field first despite the damp conditions, mindful of his side's fantastic run-chase against Lancashire on Saturday when they hunted down a target of more than 300.

Hampshire openers Michael Carberry and Sean Terry were in no mood to play themselves in and the former smashed Jack Shantry's fourth ball of the innings over the mid-wicket boundary for six and followed it with a one-bounce four. Shantry conceded 11 from his solitary over.

New Zealander Mitchell McClenaghan also conceded 11 and in the third over from Charles Morris, Carberry plundered another six into the stands over mid-wicket.

Morris conceded 14 from his over and it was only when spinner Shaaiq Choudhry came on that the run-rate temporarily slowed, only five coming off it.

But menacing clouds circled the arena and after Joe Leach had bowled a single delivery, the players were obliged to race for the sanctuary of the pavilion at the end of 15 minutes play. At that stage, the big-hitting Carberry was 30 not out and Terry was unbeaten with 10.

Benson and Cook looked again when the shower abated 20 minutes later but quickly ruled there was no chance of resuming.