Hales hundred gives Notts a chance

Hampshire 305 and 7 for 0 v Nottinghamshire 270 and 315
Scorecard

If Nottinghamshire manage to extend their winning streak to five out of five at the top of Division One, they will be grateful that Alex Hales, a batsman with a talent for explosive hitting, chose this moment to demonstrate that he knows how to play with patience and application too.

His maiden first-class century, which he extended to 136, provided the batting substance Nottinghamshire were unable to find elsewhere after conceding a 35-run first innings lead, a beacon of a performance in a largely below-par effort from the home side that has left Hampshire to chase a tricky 281 to win on a pitch unlikely to offer them an easy passage.

As a 16-year-old, playing in the London County Cricket Club Founder's Day tournament at Lord's, Hales astonished onlookers by hitting eight sixes and a four as 55 runs were scored in one over - there were three no-balls - as his W G Grace XI reached the final of a Twenty20 competition. He blasted three more sixes in the next over to finish unbeaten on 114. He had been selected as a fast bowler.

Last year, in a further demonstration of the power he can wield with a bat, he hit eight sixes -in an innings, rather than an over - for Nottinghamshire in a Pro40 match against Worcestershire, scoring 150 off a mere 102 balls.

He had shown glimpses of his potential in first-class games, with four half-centuries to his name before this match, including 78 against Durham at the Riverside last September. Called up here in a side without Hashim Amla and Mark Wagh from the line-up responsible for their flying start, he did nothing for his confidence by succumbing to a first-innings duck.

But if he was uncomfortable, he hid it well, settling any nerves by hitting Dominic Cork for three boundaries after the dismissal of Bilal Shafayat to a return catch snatched up almost as it pitched by James Tomlinson left Nottinghamshire 25 for 1.

He found himself under pressure, however, as Nottinghamshire's brittle top order ran into familiar difficulties. Neil Edwards edged Sean Ervine to the wicketkeeper, Steven Mullaney was trapped by a full, swinging ball from Cork and Samit Patel, trying to avoid a short ball from Ervine, was given out to the faintest of nicks.

When Cork made Ally Brown his second victim, Nottinghamshire had lost half their wickets with their lead a paltry 90. Now it was clear that graft was required if Hampshire were not to be left with an easy target but Hales was equal to the task. He played and missed a good few times but never gave a real chance. James Vince made an heroic attempt to catch him on the boundary when he top-edged a mighty pull against Herath but it was never really on and he had to settle for parrying the ball back into the playing area before it landed.

Indeed, there were some very handsome shots among his 15 boundaries and a clean hit six over the top against Rangana Herath brought up his 194-ball hundred in the grandest fashion, but what was most impressive was his willingness to take responsibility.

It took the best part of five hours for Hampshire to prise him out, Cork claiming the honours with a slower ball, which Hales planted in the hands of Chris Benham at short extra cover. By that time he had done his job in holding together an innings that was threatening to give the bowlers too little to defend.

Hales dominated a partnership of 95 for the sixth wicket with his captain, Chris Read, who toiled for almost two hours over a scratchy 27, and added a further 44 with Paul Franks.

Franks duelled entertainingly with Cork, who joshed with spectators by mimicking a man on a zimmer frame when the all-rounder became his fourth victim. The veteran former Derbyshire bowler inevitably finds someone in the crowd here eager to wind him up and this was no exception.

Nonetheless, the 45 that Franks scored before he edged Cork to the 'keeper may be valuable runs, enhanced by a lusty 26 from Andre Adams. It took Nottinghamshire's total to 315, leaving Hampshire with a target they will fancy themselves to get after surviving two overs at the close without loss.

Yet, against an attack well used to exploiting conditions here, and with the pitch that has been hazardous throughout unlikely to become easier to play, it may still present a difficult challenge.