Hampshire toil at Edgbaston as Knight carries bat

Hampshire toiled throughout the first day of their Frizzell County Championship match at Edgbaston, enduring muggy conditions and a slow, low wicket against Warwickshire.

Alan Mullally made early inroads with the new ball but Nick Knight and Ian Bell slowly made their way to lunch. Bell, who took 34 balls to get off the mark looked uncomfortable, particularly off the seam of Tremlett and Mascarenhas and he was dismissed shortly after the interval for a painstaking 22.

Troughton and Frost both fell to the lanky quick bowler. Brown hit three fours in his stay but only Knight had an answer to the tardiness of the pitch, patiently waiting for the bad ball.

He found another partner in England discard Ashley Giles, who had been sent from Lord's after it was decided he would not be required for the Test match. The pair put together 44, and when Giles was dismissed, wicket-keeper Keith Piper kept the opener company for a 39 stand.

But nothing could stop Knight from continuing past a well deserved century and onto an undefeated 151 by the close (401 minutes, 308 balls, 21 fours and 1 six).

At the end of the day, it was honours even with Hampshire having the edge when the hosts were 170-6.

"It was a low, slow pitch," said Hampshire coach Jimmy Cook, "at the end of the day, the lads stuck in well. It is a wicket that needs patience which Nick Knight showed, and I will be looking for similar when we bat."

From 104 overs, Hampshire bowled 39 maidens. It was the measure of the day.