Hampshire opener Jimmy Adams continued his impressive season with a battling 82 not out on a rain-hit first day of the LV County Championship match with Lancashire at The Rose Bowl.

Adams was the key figure in Hampshire's 144 for two, made from 47 overs before rain intruded early in the afternoon session of the Division One clash.

Adams has now scored more than 700 first-class runs and his latest innings has so far included 12 fours and a six, from 139 balls.

Hampshire captain Dimitri Mascarenhas chose to bat first as his side rested former Lancashire all-rounder Dominic Cork and left out Michael Lumb.

Hampshire were also forced to make a change, with pace bowler Chris Tremlett unable to play because of a neck injury.

Opponents Lancashire were also weakened, with captain Glen Chapple and Sajid Mahmood also on the injured list, so slow left-arm bowler Stephen Parry was given his Championship debut.

Adams and Michael Carberry put on 65 for the first wicket before Carberry, who had made 33, pulled Kyle Hogg to backward square leg where Mark Chilton held the catch.

Adams needed treatment after making 49 when he was struck a painful blow on the hand by Oliver Newby, but he was able to resume soon afterwards and reach his half-century from 99 balls.

When Tom Smith dropped short, Adams hooked the pace bowler onto the terracing at midwicket for six as Hampshire made serene progress.

Former Lancashire batsman John Crawley struggled to make the same impact as Adams, labouring for 76 balls for his 21 before he was the second to depart at 133.

Crawley had added only eight runs in the 16 overs between lunch and the 46th over when he was dismissed, edging Hogg to second slip where VVS Laxman clutched a catch diving to his right.

James Vince, the England Under-19 batsman who was promoted in place of Lumb, got off the mark with a four off Smith but when the rain came he had been unable to add to that boundary.

When Adams resumes his innings tomorrow, he will be looking for a second century to add to the 112 he scored against Nottinghamshire earlier in the season, while Lancashire will be seeking revenge for a 10-wicket defeat at Liverpool earlier in the campaign.