Hampshire grind Notts into dust

(ECB Match Report)

Nottinghamshire’s LV County Championship title hopes receded rapidly as uncharacteristic missed chances by Chris Read blighted their bid to dismiss Hampshire at Trent Bridge.

Since dismissing Hampshire for 203 in the first innings, Nottinghamshire have been totally outplayed in a contest they entered knowing a win would seal their sixth championship crown.

But their fortunes have contrasted sharply to rivals Durham - who are on the verge of victory over Kent at Canterbury - not helped by three dropped catches from their captain Read behind the stumps.

Former England wicketkeeper Read put down Chris Benham before lunch, when he had registered only five of his 66, centurion Nic Pothas on 39 immediately after tea, and Liam Dawson on 19.

The latter pair took Hampshire to 376 for five at the close, a giant lead of 368, with Pothas unbeaten on 104 and Dawson 48 not out.

While Nottinghamshire can still claim the silverware with a successful run chase tomorrow, their failure to seize their chance to restrict the potential target has severely hampered their cause.

Read’s team, who went into the final round of matches eight points ahead of the chasing pack, relinquished their momentum on the second day and failed to alter the course of the encounter in the opening couple of sessions today.

That meant Hampshire, unbeaten in championship cricket since July, continued their excellent end-of-season form which has seen them transformed from relegation battles to potential top-three material.

Held up by fog for 45 minutes at the start of the third day, Notts managed a single breakthrough before lunch and only three more across the final two sessions.

Michael Brown developed his overnight half-century into 93 before falling leg before to a sharply-turning delivery from Graeme Swann.

There was a further glimmer of hope when Mark Ealham struck three overs later as Sean Ervine slashed a wide one to slip which was gobbled up at the second attempt by Will Jefferson.

But from a position of 182 for four, Hampshire rallied once more thanks to Benham, who reverse-swept Swann to distraction on his way to an accomplished half-century.

Nottinghamshire’s flagging fortunes were summed up when, after taking the second new ball at 213 for four at the start of the 85th over, Benham twice pulled authoratively for four off England Test cap Darren Pattinson.

Another big spinner from left-armer Samit Patel, which turned to hit off-stump, eventually accounted for Benham early on the third evening.

That came a couple of overs after Patel induced a nick from Pothas which was floored by Read.

Two lives for Dawson in one Graeme Swann over, the 111th of the innings - an edge to Read and a turn to Will Jefferson at short leg increased the frustration for the hosts.

They had begun a delayed third morning positively when Andre Adams trapped Michael Lumb leg before wicket in the 10th over.

New Zealander Adams swung one back into left-hander Lumb from around the wicket and umpire Trevor Jesty took his time before lifting the finger.

Visitors Hampshire, who displayed redoubtable defiance throughout, had added only eight runs at that stage as Adams and Charlie Shreck kept impressive discipline.

And they could have been three down inside the first hour of play when wicketkeeper Read failed to cling onto a low chance which died on him after Shreck found the edge of Benham’s bat.

Only 38 runs were mustered in the 21-over session, in fact, most of them from the bat of Brown, who impressed with his unflustered approach.

His most impressive stroke of the third morning arrived shortly before the interval when he pulled a tiring Shreck for four.

By that time visibility had returned to normality following the gloom which prevented play getting under way until 11.15am.

Sunshine bathed the ground for the final two-thirds of the day and Hampshire revelled in the conditions with Pothas proving a typical nuisance.

His driving was a feature of a 23rd first-class hundred, which came up from 176 balls when he pierced the off-side for an 11th boundary, off Patel.

Scorecard

Benham hits-out against Notts on his way to 66 (Photo - Getty Images)

Shreck watches Dawson (48 not-out) add to Hampshire's impressive second innings tally (Photo - Getty Images)

Pothas reaches his 23rd first-class century (Photo - Getty Images) Pothas makes 104 off 182 not-out at the close of Day 3

 

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