CLOSE: Lancashire 261-5 (84 overs) after winning the toss

The search for Shane Warne's replacement has taken Hampshire far and wide but they may just have find their man in Imran Tahir.

Of course, no one can truly replace Warne, but Tahir did not do a bad job in taking 4 for 80 on the opening day of Hampshire's latest LV County Championship match, against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

A well-travelled Pakistani who is delighted to have made Hampshire his 14th first-class team, former Middlesex and Yorkshire leg-spinner Tahir enjoyed his best day in the LV County Championship before Lancashire closed on 261 for 5.

Hampshire's search for an overseas player has taken them nearly as far as Tahir's career, which most recently included a stint with the Titans in South Africa's Supersport Series, has taken him.

But after being blocked by the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Board of Control for Cricket in India in his attempts to sign fast bowler Sohail Tanvir and teenage leggie Piyush Chawla, Hampshire manager Paul Terry will have been delighted with Tahir's debut.

Tahir's combined record from four Championship matches for Middlesex and Yorkshire (96-15-377-1) is not impressive, despite an overall first-class tally of 240 wickets at an average of 26.29 that combines favourably with Warne himself.

But he was outstanding at Old Trafford after being introduced to the attack in the 16th over, when Lancashire's opening pair had raced to 84-0 against wayward Hampshire bowling.

Until Tahir came on at the Brian Statham End, Hampshire had been ragged.

The 29-year-old has been playing for Moddershall in the Waterworld North Staffs and South Cheshire League, where the fielding is probably of a better standard than Hampshire's yesterday.

Tahir had hoped to be available for Hampshire against Sussex at Arundel last week.

But he impressed on his Hampshire debut in Sunday's Pro40 defeat against Nottingamshire at Trent Bridge.

And he continued in the same vein after a disappointing opening spell from Tremlett (6-0-31-0) had given the home side the initiative.

With Greg Lamb dropped following a poor performance with the ball against Sussex - despite scoring his first fifty for three years at Arundel - and Liam Dawson away with England U19s, Tahir shone as Hampshire's only recognised spinner.

Wearing an Alice Band to hold back his highlighted locks, Tahir went from strength to strength after Lou Vincent (51) was caught by Michael Lumb at short fine-leg in his fifth over.

Lumb held on to a simple catch after Vincent top-edged a sweep following an opening stand of 110, Lancashire's highest of the season.

Tahir struck again with the fifth ball after lunch when Paul Horton (66), a centurion in the corresponding fixture last year, prodded to Michael Brown at short-leg.

And he showed that he has an effective googly when he found the outside edge of left-hander Iain Sutcliffe (20), who nicked a low catch to Sean Ervine's left at slip in the second over after a tea interval extended by 45 minutes because of rain.

With 11 overs of the day remaining, David Balcombe took the only seamer's wicket and an important one at that.

Lancashire captain Stuart Law, having just reached his fifty, top-edged a pull to mid-wicket where Brown took a good catch as it came over his head.

During his only spell from the Stretford End Tahir was let down by Ervine, who put down a chance at slip that would have seen off Steven Croft for a duck.

But he ended the day in fitting fashion, bowling Croft (18) when the Lancashire batsman went back to a flipper that struck his off stump.

Tahir roared off in the direction of south Manchester with another ecstatic celebration, and rightly so.

Without his contribution, it would have been a very difficult day for Hampshire.

All eyes were on Tremlett when play began as a strong reaction to being overlooked by England in favour of Darren Pattinson was expected.

But it did not happen for the fast bowler, who bowled too short in three wicketless spells from the Stretford End.

He was even pulled for six by Vincent before Tahir applied the brakes.

The wicket used for this match is slower than those prepared when Test cricket was played in Manchester, but Tremlett did himself no favours ahead of next week's third Test against South Africa at Edgbaston.

It was left to Tahir to rescue Hampshire with a performance that has given the county much-needed hope in their battle against relegation.

Hampshire bowling: Tremlett 15-3-58-0, Tomlinson 10-2-37-0, Mascarenhas 13-3-40-0, Tahir 31-9-80-4, Balcombe 13-3-35-1, Ervine 2-0-7-0