Shoaib struggles to stop Hampshire

Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar claimed his first wicket for Surrey but Hampshire enjoyed the better of a rain-shortened first day of their LV County Championship Division One relegation clash at the Brit Oval.

Making his debut for the bottom club, Shoaib removed Michael Carberry for 31 during his second spell as the visitors progressed to 116 for two on a day limited to 39 overs by the weather.

Owing to wet conditions, play began half an hour late at 11am and the rain brought an end to proceedings at 2.45pm.

Shoaib worked up good pace and bounce from the start but, although he beat Michael Brown a couple of times outside the off stump, Carberry was not troubled to any great extent.

He flicked Shoaib to the fine-leg boundary twice in his second over and drove Jade Dernbach straight for four.

Shoaib Akhtar strives for pace on his LV County Championship debut for Surrey against Hampshire

Shoaib’s first spell of four overs conceded 16 runs, and he too often strayed short of length before he was replaced by Pedro Collins.

Hampshire lost their first wicket on 47 after an hour’s play and following the second bowling change.

Alex Tudor, playing his third match on loan at his former county after being released by Essex, replaced Dernbach and struck with his second ball, which Brown bottom-edged on to his leg stump.

The third over after lunch brought Surrey the next wicket. Shoaib, having changed ends, struck in his second over back when he found enough movement to find Carberry’s outside edge.

Shortly after bad light stopped play for 17 minutes, and only eight overs were possible upon the resumption before the players were forced off again.

By then Michael Lumb, who had twice been beaten outside off stump by Collins, had taken his score patiently to 29 off 92 balls.

He had put on 56 in an unbroken third-wicket stand with Chris Benham, who was 28 not out by the close

Shoaib had taken 1-23 from eight overs and Tudor boasted figures of 1-21 from nine.