Hants 319 & 393-7dec Notts 245 & 42-2

Hampshire have the chance to clinch a crucial Specsavers County Championship win against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Left to score a nominal 468 to win, from a minimum of 118 overs, Notts reached stumps on 42 for two on the third day.

Earlier, Hampshire had batted until after tea before declaring on 393 for seven. Jimmy Adams scored 99, Tom Alsop hit 93 and there were half centuries also for Ryan McLaren and Liam Dawson.

Imran Tahir, with three for 111, returned the best figures for the hosts.

Adams and Alsop had few alarms in extending their second wicket partnership to 160 before being separated just before lunch.

The left-handed Adams, whose career best score of 262 not out came at Trent Bridge in 2006, moved on to 99 but then cruelly feathered an attempted pull off Jake Ball through to Chris Read.

Dawson led a charmed life as he arrived in the middle. He was bowled by the first ball he faced but was reprieved by a cry of ‘no-ball’, was then dropped at midwicket and almost chopped on to his stumps, all from the bowling of Tahir.

Alsop had brought up his 50 from 122 balls during his stand with Adams and advanced to his career best score before falling in the first hour of the middle session.

Tahir, who has played for both these sides during spells with five different English counties, picked up two wickets in quick succession.

Alsop went lbw and then Adam Wheater drilled a caught and bowled straight back to the South African international.

With Dawson and Ryan McLaren then adding 80 for the fifth wicket, Notts were delighted to make a further strike in the final over of the afternoon session.

Dawson had brought up his second fifty of the match from 85 balls but was bowled by Samit Patel for 69. The spinner made it two wickets in two balls as Lewis McManus edged his first ball into the hands of Steven Mullaney at slip. Gareth Berg survived the hat-trick delivery and moved on to 17 before nicking Tahir behind.

McLaren launched three enormous sixes over the midwicket ropes and was unbeaten on 71 when the declaration came.

Andy Carter, who took four wickets in Nottinghamshire’s first innings, struck with his first delivery of the second, having Jake Libby taken at square leg for nine.

Hampshire struck a further blow in the final over of the day as Will Smith held a juggling slip catch off Mason Crane to send back Riki Wessels for 11.

A successful run chase would be Nottinghamshire’s highest of all-time, surpassing the 461 they achieved against Worcestershire in 2001. More realistically, with 426 still needed, they will have to bat well to secure a draw and avoid dropping below their opponents at the foot of the Division One table.