Wheater ton ensures honours even

Nottinghamshire 39 for 1 trail Hampshire319 (Wheater 102, McManus 56, Wood 3-53) by 280 runs
Scorecard

Adam Wheater's second century of the season helped Hampshire pick up three batting points in their crucial Specsavers County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. The 26-year old scored 102, getting his runs from 147 balls, with 12 fours and a six as his side reached 319 before bowled out in 83 overs.

Half-centuries from Lewis McManus and Liam Dawson backed up Wheater's fine effort, with Luke Wood taking 3 for 53 for the hosts. Nottinghamshire responded with 39 for 1 in the final 11 overs of the day.

With the two county sides entering this round of matches occupying the bottom two places in the Division One table, the opening stages were inevitably important after Hampshire had won the toss and opted to bat first.

Wood, playing his first Championship match of the season, led Nottinghamshire's charge by nipping out both openers and then returned to the attack to dismiss Liam Dawson just before lunch. The 21-year old struck early, capturing the wicket of Jimmy Adams in his second over. The batsman caressed his second boundary through the covers off the young left-arm seamer but then lost his off bail to a perfectly-pitched away-swinger.

Will Smith, skippering Hants against his former county, made 12 but was then pinned on the crease by Wood and was given out lbw. Dawson dominated the third-wicket stand of 65 but lost his partner as the first session drew towards a close. Tom Alsop, who had battled for 92 minutes in making 17, fell lbw whilst trying to sweep in Samit Patel's first over.

Notts skipper Chris Read brought back Wood and his first delivery prompted Dawson to pop up a simple catch to Michael Lumb at short midwicket.

Harry Gurney took the only wicket to fall during the middle session, pinning Ryan McLaren lbw for 16 but the sixth-wicket pair of Wheater and McManus steadied the ship during a stand of 123. McManus, who reached his fifty 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 had reach three figures, tamely chipping Imran 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, Jake Libby became the fifth batsmen to be dismissed lbw when he was pinned by McLaren for 11. Jake Ball, sent in as nightwatchman, was put down by Adams at second slip, leaving the first day honours just about even.