Nottinghamshire v Hampshire LVCC Day 2 25th September

Imran Tahir triggered a spectacular collapse by Notts, who lost their last seven wickets for 39 runs to leave the LV County Championship title in the balance Brown made 51

Nottinghamshire teeter against Tahir

(ECB Match Report by Russell Staves)

Imran Tahir triggered a spectacular collapse by Nottinghamshire, who lost their last seven wickets for 39 runs to leave the LV County Championship title in the balance.

After bowling Hampshire out for 203, the engravers would have been preparing to scrawl Nottinghamshire on the cup as Samit Patel and Ashwell Prince were midway through their 116 stand for the third wicket.

But, having established a position of authority at 172 for three, Nottinghamshire capitulated. Imran Tahir was the architect of their downfall, taking four wickets in just 24 balls.

To make matters worse, Nottinghamshire's bowlers, uncharacteristically toothless, allowed Hampshire to stroll to 102 for one at the close, a lead of 94. Somerset and Durham will be watching tomorrow's action with interest, both knowing they could snatch top spot.

Michael Carberry was the one wicket to fall this evening, caught by Chris Read off Andre Adams, but Hampshire's other two Michaels, Brown and Lumb, enjoyed a casual saunter in the late September sun.

Earlier in the day Hampshire, resuming on 199 for nine, added just four runs - a tally which earned just one bonus point, ruling them out of the title race.

Starting the game 18 points adrift and with Nottinghamshire getting maximum bowling points, Hampshire now cannot overtake Read's side.

James Tomlinson was the last man to fall, caught behind in the second over off Charlie Shreck who finished with 4-48 which took him to 58 wickets for the season.

Despite being out of the running, Hampshire can have a bearing on where the trophy will rest on Saturday night.

Nottinghamshire's reply began disastrously when Bilal Shafayat was trapped on the crease for a duck by the wily Dimitri Mascarenhas who followed up a series of away swingers with one that nipped back.

Will Jefferson and Mark Wagh appeared in little bother during their second wicket partnership of 56.

Wagh, in particular, looked in sublime form, carrying on from where he left off at the Brit Oval last week where he stroked an elegant 141.

But, after reaching an attractive 29, he was given out lbw to the wayward Tomlinson who finally found his line, arching the ball back into Wagh's front pad.

Jefferson fell in the next over when he played around a straight ball from Mascarenhas and given out leg before.

Patel, another centurion from the trip to Surrey, began in sparkling fashion, getting off the mark with a punch through midwicket off Tomlinson which was followed by a drive down the ground.

There was plenty of hoo-ha surrounding Tahir's unexpected appearance at Trent Bridge - the leg-spinner was supposed to be in South Africa - but Patel welcomed him like a long lost brother, cracking him for three successive boundaries through the offside as he raced to 26.

Ashwell Prince joined in the fun as Tahir's three overs before lunch leaked six boundaries - little evidence of what was to come.

Patel continued his onslaught after the interval with a backfoot drive off Sean Ervine the pick of his 14 boundaries. He then pulled the same bowler for four to reach his half-century, which arrived in just 48 balls.

However, having made 70 and with a second century there for the taking, he chipped Tomlinson straight to Chris Tremlett at mid-off, a dismissal that sparked a startling turnaround.

Graeme Swann did not last long, hitting Tahir for successive boundaries before edging a lifter off the same bowler which Nic Pothas gobbled up at the second attempt.

Nottinghamshire were soon 192 for six when Read drove loosely at Tomlinson and was caught low at first slip by Lumb.

Tahir, after taking a pasting by Patel, finally settled into his rhythm to dismiss Mark Ealham and Adams in successive balls, the former lbw to a shooter while a googly did for the New Zealand all-rounder.

Darren Pattinson suffered a similar fate, bowled by a wrong 'un although his choice of shot, an ugly heave towards the River Trent, was ill-advised.

An unruffled Prince stood firm and took his side past Hampshire's score which brought with it a solitary bonus point.

He enjoyed some good fortune, caught off a no-ball and dropped whilst on 21 and 43, before eventually perishing on 57, caught at deep cover by Carberry attempting to swat Chris Tremlett for a second six.

Scorecard