THERE were centuries for Michael Carberry and James Vince on the opening day of the first-class season – as Hampshire gave Loughborough University’s students a cricketing lesson.

Carberry reached his century from 104 balls and Vince, full of confidence after his England Lions success, needed only 93 for his third hundred in four matches as Hampshire made 474--4 on the opening day of their three-day match against Loughborough MCCU at the Ageas Bowl.

Fresh from winning the Big Bash with the Perth Scorchers, Carberry hit his Hampshire teammate Basil Akram for two of his four sixes – including one off the second ball of the match - and accelerated after reaching three figures.

Opening bowler Stu Whittingham conceded 24 from one over against Carberry - including two sixes - after returning to the attack against the centurion.

Carberry was eventually bowled - a memorable scalp for second-change seamer Robert Gamble - for 146 (132 balls, 22 fours and four sixes).

Of course, the quality of the attack is not of but the main objective at this stage of the season is time in the middle and Hampshire’s two best batsmen both enjoyed more than two hours at the crease.

They shared a second-wicket stand of 200 from 194 balls. And after Will Smith missed out on a century when Gamble’s direct hit ran him out for 89 (113 balls), Vince put on another 182 with Liam Dawson (58 not out), before he was finally out for 140 (119 balls, 20 fours, three sixes).

Hampshire’s batsmen showed no mercy to teammate Akram, a 22 year-old seamer midway through a two-year development contract at The Ageas Bowl.

Akram, who is studying information management and business studies at Loughborough, conceded 119 from 17 wicketless overs that included a maiden against captain Jimmy Adams, who was caught behind for ten soon after losing the toss.

Hampshire have one more pre-season friendly, against Kent on Tuesday and Wednesday, before beginning their LV County Championship campaign at home to Sussex next Sunday.

Meanwhile, Hampshire’s bowlers will have to contend with India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara at Headingley next month after the Test star replaced Younus Khan as Yorkshire’s overseas player Surrey have signed Australia Moises Henriques for the T20 Blast – which includes a trip to the Ageas Bowl on July 10 - after the all-rounder was left out of his country’s Ashes squad.