HAMPSHIRE began day-night County Championship cricket with an Ageas Bowl collapse against the new pink ball.

Looking to bounce back from last week’s capitulation against Lancashire at Old Trafford, they reached 84-0 before collapsing to 172-7.

They declared on 207-9 to try and capitalise with the pink ball under the floodlights in the six overs that remained, but Somerset reached 18-0 at stumps.

The first ball received by Ed Byrom on his first-class debut, a horrendous wide from Kyle Abbott that Lewis McManus did well to snaffle on the adjacent strip, summed up Hampshire's evening.

Hampshire began well enough after winning the toss as Liam Dawson, fresh from England’s T20 series win against South Africa and in for the out-of-form Michael Carberry, put on 84 with Jimmy Adams for the first wicket.

They were still there at tea on 77-0, but two poor sessions left Hampshire behind the eight-ball against a Somerset side without a Championship win all season.

The rot set in when Adams, the only Hampshire batsman to average 40-plus this season, was caught at first slip, having been dropped there on 35, in the third over of the second session.

Rilee Rossouw’s awful run continued, caught behind after top edging a pull in Craig Overton’s next over for his fifth duck in eight Championship innings.

Dawson was the first of Lewis Gregory's three victims, pinned for a patient 53, after 139 balls at the crease.

Hampshire captain George Bailey followed for just four when he chipped Tim Groenewald’s medium pace tamely to mid-wicket.

James Vince (47) and Sean Ervine (16) added 37 at two-an-over before departing in successive overs against the slow left arm of Jack Leach, following the inaugural 6.40-7pm 'supper interval'.

Left-hander Ervine bottom-edged an attempted cut and Vince, with a first fifty in seven Championship innings in his sights, was caught behind down the leg side.

It got worse when Ian Holland was bowled neck-and-crop by an off-cutter three balls later.

Gareth Berg and Lewis McManus added 26 before departing in successive overs against the second pink ball.

Gregory squared up Berg beautifully before bowling McManus with an inswinger.

Fancying their chances with a new ball of their own, Hampshire declared after their last pair gained a batting point.

Hoping to capitalise under the lights, Hampshire were left disappointed as Marcus Trescothick guided fellow left-hander Byrom to stumps against the wiles of Abbott and Berg.

Somerset bowling: Gregory 17-6-51-3, Davey 13-4-37-0, Groenewald 16-5-27-2, C Overton 18-7-35-2, Leach 24-5-54-2