CENTURY FOR BRENDAN TAYLOR AS NOTTS PILE ON RUNS

A dominant stand of 164 between Brendan Taylor and Alex Hales put Nottinghamshire into a strong position with one day remaining of the LV= County Championship match against Hampshire at The Ageas Bowl.

Taylor followed hundreds against Loughborough MCCU and Middlesex with his third century in four first class matches for his new county. He was eventually dismissed for 103, as Notts reached 296 for four in their second innings, an overall lead of 391.

Earlier, the home side had been shuttled out for 276 by the early part of the afternoon, with Luke Wood taking one further wicket to close with figures of three for 68.

When Notts batted for a second time Hales missed out on becoming the first batsman since Russell Warren in 2003 to score centuries in each innings for the Trent Bridge side. When six runs short he offered a caught and bowled back to Liam Dawson.

“It’s very disappointing because I had all the leg side to aim at and I’ve managed to chip it straight back to the bowler,” he confessed.

“I’m annoyed with myself, it was very soft but you’d always take it (94) at the end of the day.”

Hales has now passed 600 runs in first class cricket this summer and admits things are going well for him.

“I’m loving it. It’s important you enjoy purple patches and try not to get complacent. I know what it’s like to be at the bottom as well so I’m going to enjoy this as much as I can.”

The home side resumed their first innings on the overnight score of 167 for four, still 204 runs behind but both Adam Wheater and Will Smith found the going tough against early accurate bowling from Vernon Philander and Will Gidman.

Gidman’s nagging persistence was soon rewarded with the scalp of Wheater, sent on his way by an lbw decision, for 14.

Wood replaced Philander from the Pavilion End and claimed his third wicket of the innings as he nipped one past Smith’s defence, to bowl him for 35.

Steven Mullaney then had an interesting few moments. Brought into the attack, with the new ball just a few overs away, he found the outside edge of Gareth Berg’s bat for his first championship wicket of the season and then bowled Sean Ervine, only to be frustrated by the umpire’s call of ‘No Ball’.

More frustration surfaced as Notts celebrated having Danny Briggs caught behind off Mullaney and then Ervine appeared to be stumped off Samit Patel – but both appeals fell on deaf ears.

The second new ball did produce the eighth wicket, with Briggs hitting Philander to Mullaney at mid off.

Jake Ball had fielded throughout the morning session without turning his arm over. He was given the first over after lunch and showed no concerns over the back ailment that had forced him from the field on the second day.

His second delivery, a no-ball, was banged in short and sailed over Read for 6 no-balls.

Andre Adams began to tee off against his former county and put Patel over the fence at midwicket but the same bowler then removed Ervine, thanks to a diving slip catch from Mullaney.

Ball wrapped up the innings by castling Adams for a typically-ebullient 31.

Mullaney was dismissed for 23 when Notts batted again, given out lbw as he looked to work Berg to leg. That brought Brendan Taylor and Hales together and, with both very much in the mood, the pair entertained with a high-quality stand in the final session.

Taylor displayed his full repertoire of shots, including some innovative reverse sweeps and a couple of lusty blows down the ground.

Hales also looked in good touch as he also repeatedly peppered the boards.

On 97 Taylor drilled the ball firmly back towards bowler Dawson, but the finger-stinger didn’t stick and two balls later the Zimbabwean reached his century.

Dawson got his revenge shortly afterwards, getting the opener out lbw having faced 120 balls with 12 fours.

Hales fell to the 127^th ball he faced, having hit 9 boundaries, and Patel went shortly afterwards in the pursuit for quick runs.

James Taylor put the gloss on the Nottinghamshire performance with a quickfire unbeaten 53, on the day that he was announced as England’s captain for the forthcoming ODI against Ireland.

“It’s been a great day,” he confessed. “We’re in a decent position and I’m sure we’ll now have a chat overnight and see where we are and when we want to declare in the morning.”

The excitement of the NatWest T20 Blast returns to Trent Bridge in May as Notts Outlaws hope to break the 10,000 barrier for the arrival of reigning champions Birmingham Bears on Friday 15 May.

Adult tickets are available at a special price of £10 and further discounts in place for under 16s (£5), under21s (£7) and senior citizens (£7) when buying in advance. Make Trent Bridge a firm fixture for your Friday nights and secure your seats now.