HAMPSHIRE'S top order thwarted a hard-working Yorkshire attack during an attritional opening day of the LV= County Championship match at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

The relegation-threatened hosts took a safety-first approach to their play upon losing the toss and crawled to 219-4 from 78 overs at close.

There were four interruptions due to rain to shorten a day which started with the sad news that Yorkshire legend Brian Close had passed away aged 84 on Sunday evening.

Jack Brooks struck twice for the champions, while Tim Bresnan and Steve Patterson picked up a wicket apiece as Hampshire were boosted by an obdurate 52 from opener Jimmy Adams.

Liam Dawson also contributed an unbeaten 47 and Will Smith 46, while Yorkshire's 17-year-old new-ball seamer Matthew Fisher was exceptional without reward on the way to 0-24 from 16 overs.

Although there was assistance on offer through swing and seam, the White Rose camp admitted at close they had expected the surface to do more upon arriving at the ground.

Hampshire can be satisfied with their bid to lay a platform as they chase a crucial victory in their fight against relegation. They came into their penultimate match of the campaign 11 points away from Division One safety.

But the fact that they were rarely able to break free from an accurate Yorkshire attack, if not as penetrative as it has been throughout the majority of the season, means they could still come unstuck.

A couple of quick morning wickets with the second new ball and they are back to square one.

After play started half an hour late at 11am, Adams shared 74 with opening partner Michael Carberry, who edged Brooks behind on 28 after lunch.

That was the first of three wickets to fall for 35 as the score slipped to 109-3 in the 45th over, with Bresnan also bowling James Vince through the gate for just three with a delivery that swung away and nipped back.

Patterson then had Adams neatly caught by Alex Lees at first slip before Smith, having shared 72 for the fourth wicket with Dawson, was later strangled down the leg-side by Brooks in the first half of the evening session.

Meanwhile, fellow England captain and Yorkshire stalwart Ray Illingworth paid tribute to tough-as-they-come Close, saying: "Brian was one of those bowlers you could call 'Golden arm'.

"He had the knack of taking wickets with full tosses and what have you. It was a useful knack to have – and when Brian was 16, he was as fast as Fred Trueman and had a lovely action.

"But he used to bring his foot down hard and had a bruised heel, which meant that he only bowled medium or off-spin after that. And he could turn a ball.

"He was also very brave as a fielder at forward short-leg in the days before players were like Michelin men with all their protection. It takes them ten minutes to get ready nowadays but Closey just wore a box, if anything at all.

"He was a marvellously talented sportsman. He was a two-handicapper at golf playing right-handed and a four-handicapper playing left. He was also a great swimmer."

Yorkshire president Dickie Bird added: "He was a really good all-round cricketer. He led from the front and I thought he was a magnificent captain.

"We have lost a true legend of the game and I have lost a good friend."