IT could be a contest to light up next summer's Ashes series. But the sight of Kevin Pietersen batting against Shane Warne was not a pleasant one for Hampshire fans yesterday.

South African-born Pietersen qualifies to play for England at the end of the season, and could be a Test player by the time Warne tours with Australia next year.

At the Rose Bowl yesterday he hit Warne out of the attack with a six over long on, followed by successive boundaries in the Hampshire captain's next over.

Warne finally lost patience with the 23-year-old, bowling a bouncer after a full toss had been driven for another boundary.

The ball was handed to Shaun Udal, who clawed back some ground with the important wickets of Pietersen and Chris Read in successive overs soon after coming on.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney was at the Rose Bowl to watch Hampshire for the second time in five days and left for Headingley, where England begin the second Test against new Zealand today, shortly after Pietersen had been trapped lbw by Udal's quicker ball for 49.

Wicketkeeper Chris Read was another reason for Graveney's trip south and he was bowled behind his legs in Udal's next over.

But Pietersen's 99-run partnership for the third wicket with Darren Bicknell had already put Nottinghamshire in command of this Second Division top of the table match.

Left-handed opener Bicknell had held firm while Chris Tremlett removed Jason Gallian and Russell Warren in the third and fifth overs of the Notts innings.

A diving catch by Will Kendall at point was good enough to remove the Notts skipper and Tremlett followed up by pinning Warren lbw in his next over.

At that stage it looked as though Notts would do well to gain a sizeable first innings lead on a wicket of variable bounce.

But as the afternoon wore on the wicket flattened out and Notts were 173 for 5 at stumps, well on course to put considerable distance against Hampshire's 199 all out.

It was a new-look Dimitri Mascarenhas, who was sporting a new red mohawk, who ended the innings of Bicknell, trapping the left-hander lbw for 54 after the 37-year-old's 28-over partnership with Pietersen.

The umpires are obliged to liaiase with the England and Wales Cricket Board's Alan Fordham about the state of the track as 15 wickets fell yesterday.

But the day looked as though it would be a good one for Hampshire when Derek Kenway struck the first ball, from Greg Smith, through mid wicket for four- after Warne had won the toss.

Several Hampshire batsmen made good starts. Six made more than 20 but Udal's 36 was the top score.

Michael Brown saw Kenway, Kendall, Michael Clarke and John Crawley all depart before he was trapped leg before for 20

Clarke had his middle stump knocked out by an off cutter from Richard Logan and Crawley, in his first championship innings for six weeks, made 25 from 29 balls before he was caught at third slip.

Hampshire's woes with the bat continued when leading run scorer Nic Pothas top edged a pull shortly after Warne had wafted outside off stump and edged to second slip.

Udal produced a 40-ball 36 but was adamant that he did not touch the ball after being given out, caught behind.

Logan wrapped up the Hampshire innings by digging the ball into Tremlett's ribs in his next over. The seamer was caught at short leg as Hampshire were all out for 199.

It could have been worse; Stuart MacGill, Warne's leg spinning understudy for Australia, was unable to bowl after suffering an injury while fielding.

Dominic Clapp and James Hibberd have been had their trial contracts extended until the end of the month following poor weather in May. Top order batsman Clapp, a former Sussex player, and Calmore Sports all-rounder Hibberd both played in the non first-class match against the Cardiff UCCE at The Rose Bowl.