Bowlers in Best form as Hampshire beat Nottinghamshire

HAMPSHIRE's Tino Best and Mason Crane sparked a stunning first win of the season against Nottinghamshire in the County Championship.
Mason Crane. Picture: Neil MarshallMason Crane. Picture: Neil Marshall
Mason Crane. Picture: Neil Marshall

The classic combination of fast and spin went through the tail after Samit Patel and Brendan Taylor had given the visitors hope.

But the final four wickets fell in four overs, all shared between Best and Crane, to move Hampshire off the bottom of the division one table with a 69-run win.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Captain Will Smith said: ‘It was a cracking game of cricket.

Ryan McLaren. Picture: Neil MarshallRyan McLaren. Picture: Neil Marshall
Ryan McLaren. Picture: Neil Marshall

‘The groundsmen have prepared a pitch which has allowed that ebb and flow.

‘To be able to have Tino and Mason there at the end was ideal for us.

‘It was great to get a win.’

Hampshire had started the day in bullish style, stand-in Smith aggressively declaring on 223 for nine – setting Nottinghamshire 305 to win in a minimum of 86 overs.

Ryan McLaren. Picture: Neil MarshallRyan McLaren. Picture: Neil Marshall
Ryan McLaren. Picture: Neil Marshall
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Nottinghamshire quickly lost three top order wickets with Best taking two of them and Ryan McLaren the other.

Riki Wessels departed soon after lunch, before Patel and Taylor added 108.

The stand was broken when Taylor could not lift over Best at mid-on to give Crane his first of the innings.

The runs kept coming as Dan Christian came to the crease to accompany Patel.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Just as the game looked to have turned in Notts’ favour Best ended their stand of 46 with a yorker – to uproot Christian’s middle stump.

He struck again to make it a double wicket maiden, with a head threatening bouncer.

Four overs later it was all over when exciting young leg spinner Crane took two in as many balls, Patel for 65 before Harry Gurney miss-hit a hoick to Michael Carberry.

Hampshire are now just six points behind Notts, who did not risk the injured Chris Read, with a game in hand.