HAMPSHIRE batsman Will Smith urged caution after putting his side in a strong position against his former Durham teammates.

After making 90 as Hampshire amassed 370-6, he said: “We feel we’ve won day one but Durham traditionally have fought back incredibly well in games like this so we will have to be wary of that.

“We’re in the ascendancy and have to keep pushing.”

Smith admitted that the home side would have batted first, given the choice.

“It’s a wicket we don’t think is going to get any better so we feel getting as many runs as possible first up is a good thing,” he said.

“But we can understand why they [decided to bat], with their seam attack and the overhead conditions.

“With the likes of [Graham] Onions, [Chris] Rushworth, [Ben] Stokes and young Brydon [Carse] looks decent as well, they’ve tried to play to their strengths.

“Thankfully it’s backfired for them a little bit. It did a little bit with the new ball but I think they thought it was going to swing a bit more than it did.

“It flattened out a little and it will be interesting to see what will happen when we bowl on it.

“I think it will turn consistently and probably turn more and more as the game goes on. Then the first innings runs become absolutely vital.”

Hampshire will be wary of Keaton Jennings, the country’s top scorer who was mentored by Dale Benkenstein. “No-one works harder,” added former Durham captain Smith.