Day 2: Nottinghamshire 99-5 (Lumb 32; McLaren 3-17) are 171 runs behind Hampshire 270 (Alsop 70, Ervine 42; Gurney 4-61) 

Ryan McLaren rekindled the spirit of the Great Escape as Hampshire enjoyed their best day of the season so far, writes Simon Walter

The South African, who made crucial contributions with bat and ball to help secure an improbable first division survival on the final day of last season, produced an inspired performance against the same opposition.

It has put Hampshire in a strong position as they look for their first win since that dramatic eight-wicket success at Trent Bridge last September. 

McLaren’s diving catch in the gully, after Steven Mullaney drove at the third ball of Nottinghamshire’s reply to Hampshire’s 270, set the tone for a brilliant afternoon.

Leaping to his left after Mullaney was beaten by Tino Best, McLaren held on with both hands.

Then, at the end of the fifth over, from a venomous Best, Michael Carberry’s direct hit from backward point ran out Jake Libby (after Michael Lumb attempted a quick single to his former Hampshire opening partner) to reduce Notts to 8-2.

Carberry celebrated with arms outstretched, nodding in satisfaction at his handiwork.

Lumb nicked to Adams against the first ball of McLaren’s second spell (8-3-13-3), which also yielded the scalps of Taylor (28), caught behind, and Samit Patel (3), who edged to Will Smith, Hampshire’s delighted new captain.

But it was not all good news. Sean Ervine left the field after being struck on the wrist by a throw.

Hampshire’s 270 was bolstered by rookie batsman Tom Alsop’s highest Specsavers County Championship score. 

The left-handed academy product, 32 not out overnight, made 72 (148 balls, five fours) after Hampshire began day two against Nottinghamshire on 149-4.

Alsop put on 72 with Sean Ervine (42), before losing his fifth-wicket partner in the third over to a beauty from Luke Fletcher that swung into the left-.hander and then left him before hitting off stump.

But Alsop reached his second first-class fifty from 82 balls (four fours) while adding a further 43 with Adam Wheater (19), who appeared to walk when he got an inside edge to become the first of Harry Gurney’s four victims.

Alsop, recalled after back-to-back 150-plus scores for the 2nd XI, was still there at lunch on 69, with Hampshire 228-6.

But soon after lunch, the left-arm swing of Gurney accounted for Alsop, McLaren and Tino Best in nine balls before  a valuable tenth-wicket stand of 35 between James Tomlinson (21no) and Mason Crane (10) secured a second batting point.

Jake Ball will be replaced by Brett Hutton for the last two days of this match after retaining his place in England's squad for the second Test against Sri Lanka, at Durham