Patel takes four as Hampshire struggle

Nottinghamshire 35 for 3 v Hampshire 213
Scorecard

Nottinghamshire spinners Samit Patel and Graeme White shared six wickets on the second day of their Championship Division One clash with Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

Patel recorded figures of 4 for 43 as Nottinghamshire dismissed their hosts for 213, Neil McKenzie the mainstay of the innings with an unbeaten 97. Three wickets from Chris Wood, who had earlier made 34, then left the visitors 35 for 3 at the close.

After rain washed out the first day, Hampshire won the toss and elected to bat in overcast conditions, but were soon made to regret their decision as a flurry of early wickets fell.

Liam Dawson was the first man to go, getting stuck on his crease to a delivery from Charlie Shreck which kept slightly low and trapped him lbw for just six. Fellow opener Jimmy Adams, promoted into the captain's role because of Dominic Cork's unexpected absence, was the next wicket to fall, bowled off his pads by former England quick Darren Pattinson for seven to leave Hampshire 13 for 2.

Michael Carberry went for four, edging Pattinson behind to give Chris Read a regulation catch as his side slipped into real trouble at 26 for 3. McKenzie and James Vince temporarily steadied the ship, with Vince the fortunate beneficiary of two dropped catches.

But as Hampshire nudged past 50, Vince finally fell, looping a catch to Pattinson off the bowling of Patel. Sean Ervine was next up, but after battling for 44 balls, the former Zimbabwe Test player was dismissed for 14, edging left-arm spinner White to slip to leave the hosts 86 for 5 at the lunch break.

The impressive and resilient McKenzie brought up his 50 and Hampshire's 100 with a nicely-timed drive after lunch, before combining in a 51-run partnership with wicket-keeper Michael Bates.

But medium-pacer Steven Mullaney struck with the last ball of his first over, dismissing Bates for 24. A brief shower brought about an early tea before some big hitting from Wood saw him and the McKenzie rack up a half-century partnership.

But after two big sixes had advanced the youngster to 34 - just one run short of matching his highest first-class score - Wood fell to a sharp slip catch by Adam Voges off the bowling of Patel.

McKenzie looked to be moving towards his second Championship century of the season, but was left stranded on 97 after Danny Briggs and Imran Tahir fell to Patel in quick succession and David Griffiths was dismissed by White.

Nottinghamshire were soon in trouble themselves at the start of their reply, Wood removing opener Neil Edwards (eight) and dangerman Alex Hales (two) in just his second over.

And he secured Hampshire's first bowling point with his third wicket in a devastating opening burst, bowling Rikki Wessels for seven to leave Nottinghamshire struggling.