Hampshire’s return to Dean Park was overshadowed by AFC Bournemouth’s seafront celebrations.

But while most of the town basked in the Cherries’ astonishing rise to the Premier League, Jimmy Adams marked the first match of his benefit year with a 59-ball 76 against Dorset CCC.

Memories of Hampshire’s first-class visits to charming Dean Park were rekindled in front of a crowd of about 1,000.

They saw Hampshire make 167-5 on a slow wicket after winning the toss, which was enough to win on run rate when rain ended Dorset’s reply at 100-6 after 17 overs.

Adams hit seven fours and three leg-side sixes, included sweeps against the slow left-arm of Jake Lintott that crashed into the pavilion and the adjacent block of flats, and a pull against Hampshire’s Tom Barber, who like Lewis McManus was playing for his home county.

Hampshire lost openers Michael Carberry, caught behind for a two-ball duck, and James Vince (12) in the opening four overs.

And Owais Shah (13), playing his first game of the season, did not last long when he was caught by Barber at square leg against the effective leg-spin of 18-year-old Jem Warner (4-0-18-1).

Sean Ervine launched successive straight sixes against Bashley off-spinner Sam Thomson in his 12-ball 25, before he was stumped by Hampshire’s McManus in the same over.

Will Smith’s ten-ball 20 not out included a straight maximum in the penultimate over. Smith (2-18) and Danny Briggs (3-16) were the pick of the Hampshire attack against a Dorset side for whom Masoor Khan top scored with a 38-ball 36.

Fidel Edwards (3-0-24-0) was not the only player making his Hampshire debut. Yasir Arafat (4-0-23-0) is playing for Hampshire as a white-ball specialist this year.