Only 25 overs were possible on day three of the LV= County Championship match at the Ageas Bowl, yet that was long enough for Lancashire's Cypriot-South African batsman Andrea Agathangelou to complete his maiden century for his adopted county.
Agathangelou was a last-minute replacement for Simon Katich, who was taken to hospital after being hit on the head during the warm-up yesterday.
The 23-year-old made the most of his unexpected opportunity, moving from his overnight 93 to 121 before being run out by Danny Briggs from square-leg.
Thanks to Agathangelou, Lancashire's last two wickets added 113 to frustrate Hampshire, who had been on top for most of the first day.
Lancashire resumed in gloomy, wet conditions today on 252 for nine in the 82nd over and with conditions still encouraging the Hampshire pace bowlers.
But James Tomlinson and David Balcombe, who had taken seven of the wickets, found the last pair in no mood to surrender.
Agathangelou needed 20 balls to move to three figures and dominated the last-wicket stand of 70 as Simon Kerrigan offered solid, uncompromising support.
Together they put on a further 43 runs in 17 overs before Agathangelou was stranded by Briggs' throw, but by then Lancashire had fully recovered from a disappointing 182 for eight after winning the toss.
Balcombe overcame an horrific start in which he conceded 21 from his first three balls of the match to finish with 5-104, but Lancashire had held out for an extra 80 minutes in the process of regaining the initiative.
Kerrigan was unbeaten with 14 at the fall of the final wicket, and his part in 22 overs of defiance left Hampshire with an awkward half-hour's batting before lunch.
Hampshire had still not scored a run when they lost their captain, Jimmy Adams, in the fourth over, leg before to an inswinger from Kyle Hogg.
Michael Carberry and Liam Dawson took circumspect Hampshire through to seven for one from eight overs at lunch, but then came the rain.
Umpires Nigel Cowley and Martin Saggers waited until 5pm before calling off play for the day, but they were left with no alternative in the squally showers.
