by Alex Smith

SAM Northeast has revealed that he is likely to be out for up to six weeks with a fractured finger.

The Hampshire batsman sustained the injury in training last Thursday, just a few days after making his first century for his new county, against Surrey at The Oval.

He said: "It was the last catch in training the day before the game so it was hugely disappointing especially after last week, by getting that score and wanting to build on it.

"It is disappointing especially when you move to a new club you want to keep building on that. Hopefully I can get back reasonable quickly.

"I am looking at a hand specialist and maybe surgery next week. Hopefully I will be back in a month or six weeks time."

Northeast will miss at least two Championship and six One-Day Cup matches.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Adams missed out on his first Specsavers County Championship century of the season as bad light frustrated both Hampshire and Essex at the Ageas Bowl.

The opening batsman made 87 before he was finally dismissed at 3.10pm yesterday, shortly before bad light ended play for the day.

Only 28 overs were bowled yesterday, with 200 overs lost over the three days and the prospect of very little today.

But Hashim Amla followed his half-century at the Kia Oval with a 93-ball 52 while putting on 93 with Adams,who was dropped on 62, a regulation chance to Alastair Cook at first slip.

Peter Siddle had Amla caught behind before Jamie Porter ended Adams’ 264-ball vigil with an angled delivery that pinned the left-hander lbw from around the wicket.