Wet weather ensured Hampshire will have to wait to begin their Vitality Blast campaign as their opening fixture againt Sussex Sharks was abandoned without a ball bowled.

There had been hope of play starting at the Utilita Bowl, despite a day of heavy rain on the south coast, after a toss had been made.

Sussex skipper Luke Wright had won the delayed toss and elected to bowl first in a re-jigged 14 overs-a-side match.

But soon before the scheduled start time of 8.15pm the rain returned and any chance of any action was ended at 8.45pm by umpires Graham Lloyd and David Millns.

Hampshire were set to include South African all-rounder Chris Morris for the first time, while winter recruits Aneurin Donald and James Fuller would have made their T20 bows for the club.

WHAT’S NEXT: Hampshire host Kent at the Utilita Bowl on Sunday (2.30pm start) before travelling to Hove on Wednesday evening for the second part of ‘El Clasicoast’ – which is Sussex’s next outing.