Rankin and Woakes dominate Hampshire

Warwickshire enjoyed the best of the opening day in the Ageas Bowl sunshine as they reduced to Hampshire to 255 for 8 at the close of play.

Hampshire were indebted to their sixth-wicket pair of Adam Wheater (57) and Joe Gatting (43), who added 92 after the innings had sagged at 102 for 5. Gareth Berg added an unbeaten 42 during a spirited rally with tail-ender Mason Crane before stumps.

Boyd Rankin, recalled to the Warwickshire bowling line-up, took 3 for 45 on his return, while fellow England-capped paceman Chris Woakes continued his rehabilitation after knee surgery with tidy figures of 2 for 19 from 13 overs. This is only his third LV= County Championship match of the summer.

Hampshire's top order has struggled for runs all season and Jimmy Adams, who has not passed 30 in an innings since May, went for a duck - the first of two early victims for Woakes, who had James Vince caught at first slip in his next over to leave the hosts 4 for 2.

Michael Carberry and Will Smith eased Hampshire through to lunch without further mishap - only 61 runs came in an arduous morning session - but the pair were soon parted after the interval.

Carberry was caught behind for 36 by Tim Ambrose when attempting to flick a ball off his legs, to give the recalled Rankin his first wicket.

Nine runs later and with Hampshire generally struggling against a predominantly seam attack, Warwickshire bagged a fourth victim, with Smith (43) superbly caught on the run at wide third man by Jeetan Patel as the former Durham batsman attempted to upper-cut Rankin.

It left Hampshire 85 for 4 - and a fifth wicket soon fell when Liam Dawson was trapped lbw by Rikki Clarke.

Warwickshire's progress was held up by Wheater and Gatting, who took Hampshire to 196 before the latter hit a soft catch to short extra cover off Patel.

To Hampshire's disappointment, Wheater, industrious at the crease and adding some needed zip to the run rate, fell to a gully catch by Laurie Evans to give Rankin his third wicket off a ball that rose sharply.

Australian Jackson Bird departed soon after Warwickshire took the new ball, but as Hampshire wobbled again at 214 for 8, so Berg and Crane rallied in the final hour.

Berg was going well by stumps and had added a handy 41 with teenager Crane, on 12 not out, for the ninth wicket.