THE second day of Kent's Championship clash with Hampshire was in real danger of being washed out after heavy overnight rain got under the covers to soak one end of Rose Bowl pitch.

The players arrived at the ground in West End near Southampton today to find groundstaff operating hot-air blowers in a desperate bid to dry an area of the wicket near the popping crease at the northern end of the ground, where rain had found its way through both the sheets and roll-on covers.

Umpires John Holder and John Steele were joined in their 10am inspection by ECB pitch inspector David Hughes, and Steele quickly confrimed there would be no play before lunch on the second day of four.

A second inspection is planned for 2pm.

"It rained heavily all night and we're not sure how the water got in, but it clearly has," he said.

"You wouldn't say that is a dangerous part of the pitch, but it is where the batsman will stand and where a right-arm bowler would land his front foot, so it is an important area and it will be greasy for a while.

"They are making every effort to dry it now, but that said, the outfield is under water in places, so there was no chance of a prompt start anyway."

The wet pitch was another blow to a Kent side that had made decent progress on an opening day that also lost 75 overs due to rain.

In the 29 overs that were possible, Kent restricted Shane Warne's Hampshire to 72 for four with Andrew Hall taking two for 17 on his season's bow in the Liverpool Victoria Championship.