England rout Hampshire at the Rose Bowl

England 238 (Strauss 85, Pietersen 77) beat Hampshire 85 by 153 runs
Scorecard

Chris Tremlett celebrates an early success - but the smiles didn't last for Hampshire © Getty Images

Darren Gough took a hat-trick as England crushed Hampshire by 155 runs at the Rose Bowl. Hampshire slid to 85 all out in desperate pursuit of 239, but England's display was not altogether convincing, with their top order faltering. They were in trouble at 72 for 4, before Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen joined forces to rescue them with a fifth-wicket stand of 133. Strauss struck 85 and Kevin Pietersen cracked 77 against his home side.

Hampshire's innings got off to a terrible start - Jones striking with his first ball to remove Derek Kenway - and never recovered. But the day was Gough's. He proved that he still has what it takes in the one-day arena, removing Craig McMillan, John Crawley and Chris Benham in quick succession.

Hampshire had nowhere to hide and the match was wrapped up within 20 overs, with Chris Tremlett the top scorer - shooting 21 from No 10. Shaun Udal and Greg Lamb were the only other players to make double figures - they both made 17 - while their side posted five ducks. One of these was their guest, Vikram Solanki, who had been included in the side along with Jon Lewis to allow all 13 of England's one-day squad (with the exception of the injured Steve Harmison) to get a run-out ahead of England's one-day series with Australia and Bangladesh. And he was indeed run out, as his short, sharp practice came to an end on just his third ball.

But he fared much better in a hastily arranged 12-over match, striking a quickfire 41. It was a match England had requested to give them practice ahead of Monday's Twenty20 international with Australia. But it didn't appeal to everyone - half of the crowd of 10,000 had already gone home, as had the umpire, Peter Willey - and he was replaced at square-leg by the dressing-room attendant.

But for Solanki and Hampshire, the first match was painful stuff, with England at their most merciless, and continuing in the same crushing vein as when they destroyed Bangladesh. But it's a killer instinct worth refining as they know stiffer tests are on their way - and they come no bigger than Australia.

But their top order will be a cause for concern. Geraint Jones, Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Flintoff all failed to fire, while Michael Vaughan made a patient 24. It was Tremlett who started the rot, removing Jones without scoring. Tremlett took 3 for 43. His new-ball partner Lewis also took three wickets.

Strauss and Pietersen halted the slide. Strauss cracked his 85 from 108 balls, with four sixes. But the 8000-strong crowd had come to see their man, Pietersen. He has a penchant for performing on his doorstep, usually against the teams that he could - or indeed does - play for. Today was no different.

Pietersen had set the tone back in January at Bloemfontein where, having turned his back on South Africa, he returned for England to destroy their attack; a brutal response to a sarcastic `Welcome home' message. The home crowds at his latest abode, The Rose Bowl, were also to be disappointed as he savaged their bowlers - his county team-mates - with similar fireworks. His blistering 77 from 80 balls included five fours and two sixes. It proved more than enough.