County Championship: Hampshire edge first day against Warwickshire as 20 wickets fall

Mohammad Abbas took 29 wickets at an average of 15.62 in the first group phase of the County Championship

Hampshire's Mohammad Abbas and Keith Barker and Warwickshire's Will Rhodes all took five wickets as ball dominated bat on day one at Edgbaston.

After play was delayed by an hour by a Covid case in the Hampshire camp, Bears captain Rhodes took 5-23 as the visitors were blown away for just 89.

Abbas (5-29) and Warwickshire old boy Barker (5-43) then shot the Bears out for 116 in reply, a lead of 27.

Hampshire reached 41-0 in their second innings at stumps to end 14 runs ahead.

There was initially confusion when the toss did not take place on time and the players did not emerge at the scheduled 10:30 BST start time.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed there had been a positive Covid case within the visiting squad but that "an investigation had determined it was safe to start the match".

Hampshire comfortably made their way to 44-1 before the introduction of Rhodes' medium pace triggered a clatter of wickets.

Finding some swing and nip off the pitch, Rhodes had Tom Alsop caught behind with the last ball of his first over. He then struck in each of his next two as Hampshire collapsed to 51-5 in the space of 26 deliveries.

Captain James Vince (21) was last out, top-edging a slog off Rhodes looking for quick runs as his side's innings continued to disintegrate.

But Hampshire's opening bowlers replicated Warwickshire's potency as Abbas and former Bears all-rounder Barker had the visitors reeling at 26-5.

Sam Hain (41) and wicket-keeper Michael Burgess (27) grafted for a stand of 61 before Burgess pushed Abbas to second slip to his first ball after tea.

Abbas, back in the Hampshire side after agreeing a deal to return following his Test commitments with Pakistan, then ended Hain's 102-ball stay when he feathered one behind to Alsop.

He helped finish off the Bears innings, taking a steepling catch at fine leg to dismiss last man Danny Briggs to give left-armer Barker his fifth wicket.

Hampshire openers Joe Weatherley and Ian Holland then made a much better fist of it second time round ending a manic day of 20 wickets in calm fashion to secure a slender lead.

Warwickshire coach Mark Robinson told BBC Radio WM:

"It was a bizarre day. To come to the ground in bright sunshine thinking you're going to play to then be thinking you might not play and then to see 20 wickets fall in a day was incredible really.

"It was not the best quality batting from either team, although there was some great bowling at times. Abbas is a high quality performer. His spell was exceptional, backed up by Barks.

"But both teams will want to be better with the bat second time round. Both teams will be disappointed to be bowled out for the scores they did.

Hampshire's former Bears all-rounder Keith Barker:

"We probably didn't execute some shots as well as we'd like, which put us under a bit of pressure. Fortunately when we got the ball we were able to hit some good areas and make them make some mistakes.

"For both sides there were some good balls in there bit also some bad options taken with the bat.

"Both sides have come in way below par with the bat. It happens. Even on the best of wickets it can happen, so it is just about making sure you keep yourself in the game which we managed to do."