Matt Carter took three wickets for 34 runs on his return to the Nottinghamshire side for their Specsavers County Championship match against Hampshire at The Ageas Bowl.
Carter’s haul, coupled with three wickets for captain Steven Mullaney, helped dismiss the hosts for 277. Notts then ran into trouble late in the day, closing on 39 for four.
“It was hard work today bowling-wise but we grafted away and finally got our rewards by bowling them out," he said.
“I thought Dawson and Abbott put on a good partnership, which eventually we managed to break but then we had a tricky little spell to bat at the end of the day.
“It’s always tough when you’ve got to go out and face 15 or 16 overs and it’s always in the bowler’s favour because you can’t really get going.
"You’re always playing yourself in and trying to keep it steady. But we’ll come back tomorrow, with six wickets left, and hopefully we can get another 250-300 runs and toil away again.”
The off-spinner praised the burst from his captain, straight after lunch.
“Mull’s three quick wickets without a run being scored were outrageous but then they put 100 on and then another three wickets real quick and then the same again.
“If we can bat for a decent amount of time it will feel a lot easier than when you first get in. I think we need to get our heads down tomorrow and spend some time at the crease and see what happens from there.”
Carter had been out injured for a short while, so emphasised how much the day had meant to him.
“The last couple of weeks have been hard work for me, with not playing. But to come straight back into it and take a nice few little wickets was very pleasing on a personal note.”
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