An enthralling day’s cricket ended with honours just about even as Nottinghamshire scrapped for supremacy on the opening day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Hampshire at Trent Bridge.

The visitors made 319 after opting to bat first, with Adam Wheater making 102. Luke Wood took three for 53 for the hosts, with Jake Ball and Imran Tahir each taking a couple of wickets.

Notts reached stumps on 39 for one, after losing Jake Libby for 11 before the close.

Wood was included in the starting eleven for the first time this season in the championship side and made an early impression with the wicket of Jimmy Adams.

The left-handed opener had just caressed him through the off side for his second boundary when he was castled by a perfectly-pitched away-swinger.

Wood’s stock rose even higher when he fired a full delivery into Will Smith’s pads and the former Notts batsman was sent on his way, lbw for 12.

Liam Dawson led the revival, dominating a stand of 65 for the third wicket with Tom Alsop. The England international made 43 out of the first 51 they put on together but both fell in the closing minutes of the morning session.

Samit Patel trapped Alsop lbw for 17 in his only over of the session and then Wood, recalled for one over before lunch, began with a bang as Dawson hit his first ball straight to Michael Lumb at short midwicket.

Dawson made 54, having reached his half century from 65 balls, with eight fours. After lunch Ryan McLaren helped put on 59 for the fifth wicket with Adam Wheater.

Their partnership was broken by Harry Gurney, who pinned the former South African international lbw for 16, bowling from the Radcliffe Road end.

Wheater had reached his 50 from 88 balls with nine fours and then pulled Wood for a six into the Fox Road Stand. McManus also hit a maximum, to go with seven boundaries in his 101-ball half century.

McManus, who reached his 50 from 101 balls, was superbly caught for 56 by Chris Read after being surprised by a short-pitched ball from Steven Mullaney.

Wheater’s fine knock ended shortly after he’d reach three figures, tamely chipping Tahir to midwicket. Hampshire’s last four wickets fell for 15 as Mason Crane and Brad Wheal departed without scoring, before Andy Carter, on his Hampshire debut, was mopped up by Ball for 4.

When Notts batted, Libby became the fifth batsmen to be dismissed lbw when he was pinned by Ryan McLaren for 11. Ball, sent in as nightwatchman, was put down by Adams at second slip, leaving the first day honours just about even.

 

Every ball of Nottinghamshire's Specsavers County Championship fixture against Hampshire will be stremed live, in HD, with integrated commentary via Trent Bridge Live...