Jason Lewry quickly made his presence felt with three wickets before the opening day of Sussex's friendly against Hampshire was cut short by rain.

Only one hour 35 minutes of play was possible at Hove with Hampshire stumbling to 99-4 from 29 overs.

New signing Mohammad Akram gave Sussex an ideal start by bowling youngster Michael Brown for a duck off only the second delivery of the match.

Lewry then got going in the next over by pinning Derek Kenway in front for two, and Will Kendall followed in similar fashion to the left-armer.

Lawrence Prittipaul became Lewry's third victim when he holed out at backward square leg.

Rain interrupted play after an hour, and only another 35 minutes were possible when the players returned at 12.35pm.

Former England batsman John Crawley and South African-born Nic Pothas both reached 28 and take up the challenge today in the conclusion of the one-innings-a-side match.