By Ralph Dellor at Portsmouth
First day of four: Hants (108-5) trail Notts (128) by 20 runs
EVER since the defence cuts took effect, Portsmouth has been harbouring redundant vessels. During the winter, another significant piece of hardware was mothballed: ``Hercules'', the six-ton roller which produced the fast, true wickets for which the United Services ground was renowned, was declared obsolete following a visit from Harry Brind, the ECB pitches inspector.
The type of top dressing now being used on the square will not stand up to such Herculean treatment, though most batsmen would probably hope that the 80-year-old roller will soon be reinstated to active service.
Not many of them yesterday could blame a pitch that did offer lift and movement, but which was by no means a terror. However, once Nixon McLean had instilled doubt by exploiting the bounce available, wickets tumbled.
Not only did the West Indian opening bowler claim four good wickets, he also put Tim Robinson out of this match, and possibly out of the game. Having recently announced his retirement, at the end of the season, the broken wrist he suffered when struck by his first ball might have brought forward his farewell by a few weeks.
Apart from Robinson, the top-order batsmen all reached double figures, yet only Paul Franks passed 20. It was significant that he favoured the back foot, before falling to a sucker punch. Having chipped Alex Morris just over square leg, Shaun Udal moved himself to long leg where Franks obligingly holed out next ball after a resilient innings which included the one six of the day. It was a top-edged hook straight to the sightscreen and illustrated the pace McLean generated.
In Hampshire's reply, only Adrian Aymes could be considered unfortunate because he got the one ball of the day which popped from a length to lob from his glove to short leg. Jason Laney batted with admirable resolve for a man who had managed just 20 runs from his seven championship innings this season. He was on the verge of a half-century, having doubled the score with the more adventurous Dimitri Mascarenhas, when bad light brought a premature close.
Day 2: Gallian steadies the ship after storm
By Ralph Dellor at Portsmouth
Second day of four: Nottinghamshire (128 & 140-2) trail Hampshire (301) by 33 runs
AFTER 14 wickets had fallen on the first day, and Nottinghamshire's Tim Robinson had suffered a broken wrist, the second day proved entirely more batsman friendly. It might just have been a result of the celebrated heavy roller ``Hercules'' being taken out of mothballs for the occasion.
Jason Laney and Dimitri Mascarenhas extended their sixth-wicket partnership into three figures without looking unduly worried by the Nottinghamshire attack. Laney's was the only wicket to fall before lunch when he touched a lifting ball outside off stump to the wicket-keeper.
His efforts should go a long way towards bolstering confidence which must have been at a low ebb after a wretched season.
Mascarenhas, on the other hand, has had a thoroughly enjoyable season with the bat. Played as a bowler pure and simple before, with a batting average of 8.22 in first-class cricket, he has worked his way into the all-rounder category. He justified the label once again and his maiden century cannot be long in coming if he continues to bat with such assured good sense.
Nixon McLean hit two sixes and three fours in a 38-ball innings of 36 which was as annoying to the Nottinghamshire bowlers as it was amusing to the Hampshire crowd. All the other batsmen chipped in, including Peter Hartley at No 11 with his 4,000th first-class run as Hampshire inched to a third bonus point.
Batting again with a deficit of 173, Nottinghamshire lost two early wickets before Jason Gallian and Paul Johnson steadied the ship with an unbroken partnership of 99.
How ironic it would be if Hampshire were to be denied victory by a man named Gallian within sight of Nelson's flagship.
Day 3: Gallian unbeaten chasing lost cause
By Ralph Dellor at Portsmouth
Hampshire (301 & 73-3) bt Notts (128 & 243) by 7 wkts
DESPITE the efforts of Jason Gallian, who carried his bat for his first century for Nottinghamshire, Hampshire registered their third championship win of the season an hour and a half after lunch on the third day. While the pitch will attract criticism, apart from generous bounce and the occasional ball which misbehaved, good bowling and indifferent batting were the main reasons for the early finish.
Gallian was an honourable exception to the batting criticism. Unfortunate with injuries since his winter move from Old Trafford, he was back to his best during a stay of 5.25 hours at the crease. His concentration and technique survived every examination in difficult circumstances.
For the first 12 overs of the day he was accompanied by Paul Johnson. In adding 139 for the third wicket they had seen off the arrears despite Peter Hartley causing Johnson to fend a few lifters off his body tantalisingly out of short leg's reach. Then Johnson lost his off stump to Dimitri Mascarenhas.
There was a disappointing lack of resolve from the later batsmen, even allowing for the absence of Tim Robinson with a broken wrist. The Hampshire bowlers put enough balls in the right place to keep up the pressure, with Alex Morris maintaining his good form on the way to a career-best return.
Kevin Evans produced an outstanding, if contentious catch at long leg which required lengthy consultation between the umpires before John Stephenson was forced to trudge to the pavilion. Hampshire showed early jitters in reaching the modest target, with Jason Laney failing to score for the fourth consecutive second innings, before the old heads of Kevan James and Adrian Aymes saw them home and consigned Gallian's heroic effort to a losing cause.