Hogg and Smith give Lancashire control

Lancashire 124 for 2 v Hampshire 160
Scorecard

A total of 12 wickets fell on the opening day of the County Championship match between Lancashire and Hampshire at Liverpool but it is the hosts who will rest the easier. Kyle Hogg and Tom Smith shared seven wickets as they skittled former team-mate Dominic Cork's men for 160.

The seam duo were recently awarded their first-team caps at Old Trafford and were major players as Hampshire lost five wickets for just one run in 16 balls to slip from 62 for 1 to 63 for 6. Hogg, 27, finished with a season's best 4 for 53 from 14 overs and Smith 3 for 40 from 12, taking advantage of some movement off the pitch after Glen Chapple had won the toss and elected to bowl.

Conditions for batting were not treacherous by any means but there was pace and carry, uneven bounce at times and sideways movement. But, despite Cork trapping Paul Horton lbw early in Lancashire's reply, the hosts responded with authority.

Mark Chilton (47 not out) closed in on his fourth fifty in his last seven innings as the hosts reached 124 for 2 from 46 overs at close, 36 runs behind.

Hampshire had made a commanding start thanks to Michael Carberry (30) and Australian Phil Hughes in particular. They put on 43 for the second wicket before the dramatic spell undid their good work.

Carberry was caught behind by Gareth Cross off Hogg before Neil McKenzie was trapped lbw by the same bowler for a three-ball duck in the same over, the 23rd. Hughes then edged Smith to Horton at first slip in the next over. And it was the first of two in two balls for Smith because he also trapped Sean Ervine lbw for a golden duck.

Wicketkeeper Michael Bates then completed the handful of wickets when he edged Hogg to Smith at second slip for the third duck of the innings. Smith later bowled James Vince and Hogg had James Tomlinson caught by Horton.

But debutant Chris Wood top scored with 35, sharing crucial eighth and ninth wicket stands of 30 and 43 with Cork and Tomlinson, to at least bring some respectability. Chapple also claimed two wickets but struggled for much of the innings with an ankle problem.

Lancashire opener Karl Brown was dropped on 14 by Hughes in the slips but edged Ervine behind to Bates after tea to leave Lancashire at 49 for 2 in the 21st over. Chilton, who hit eight fours, was particularly strong on the straight drive, while he also top edged a pull off Wood over long leg for six.