Nottinghamshire face a huge challenge on the final day if they are to leave the Isle of Wight undefeated.

The visitors ended the third day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Hampshire on 42 for two, having been set a victory target of 439 in 111 overs.

Ajinkya Rahane and Sam Northeast both scored centuries as the host county enjoyed themselves on a sun-drenched surface.

Rahane scored 119 on his county championship debut, scoring his runs from 197 balls, with 14 fours.

Northeast, skippering Hampshire in the absence of England’s James Vince, made 133, with the pair adding 257, a county third wicket record against Notts.

Once Northeast had fallen, having hit 14 fours and a six from his 186 balls, Notts were further punished by an aggressive stand of 88 in only 10.5 overs between Tom Alsop and Ian Holland.

Steven Mullaney’s two for 78 was the leading bowling analysis for Notts.

Hampshire resumed their second innings on 3-1 at the start of the day, with Oli Soames and Rahane at the crease but they were parted as early as the second over with Stuart Broad having the opener caught behind for two.

Northeast joined the Indian Test player and both were busy at the crease, bringing up their 50 partnership in even time.

That had been extended to 117 by lunch, with both players having brought up their half century.

Rahane reached his milestone with a cut through the covers from Matt Carter’s off spin. Northeast followed shortly afterwards, driving down the ground.

The surface had lost some of the devilment that was evident over the first two days and offered little encouragement to any of the Nottinghamshire bowlers.

Under the heat of the afternoon sun, runs came steadily throughout the middle session, with both batsmen advancing to three figures.

Jake Libby entered the attack just before tea but was also unable to stem the flow of runs, as Northeast lofted the spinner over the midwicket ropes to take the partnership past 250.

In the final over before tea Carter turned one out of the rough to bowl Rahane, leaving Hampshire on 266 for three at the break.

Mullaney had Northeast caught in the deep by Broad soon after the restart and the same bowler then cleaned up Aneurin Donald for 12 to pick up his 100th first class wicket.

Alsop, 51 not out, and Holland, 39 not out, hit three fours and three sixes between them before the declaration was made.

Ben Duckett was given out for nought, lbw to Keith Barker at the start of Nottinghamshire’s second innings. Ben Slater and Chris Nash advanced the score to 22 before the home side struck again.

Fidel Edwards, replacing Kyle Abbott, found sufficient lift and movement to have Slater caught behind for 12.

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