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Edwards Impresses as Hampshire Dismiss Notts on Opening Day
Edwards Impresses as Hampshire Dismiss Notts on Opening Day
West-Indian fast-bowler picked up six wickets to dismiss the hosts for 340
Fast-bowler Fidel Edwards’ (6-88) best figures for the club helped Hampshire make a positive start on day one of their must-win LV= County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
Three early wickets for the West Indian paceman left the visitors 39-3, before the home side hit back with an excellent Riki Wessels (104) century which put Notts into a promising position.
But Hampshire responded with five wickets in the evening session to dismiss the hosts for 340 and take full bowling bonus points.
Nightwatchman Ryan Stevenson (0) was then dismissed with the first ball of the reply, as Hampshire ended the day 0-1.
In the build up to this week’s crucial match, opening batsman Jimmy Adams admitted a lot of factors would have to go their way if Hampshire were to complete the ‘great escape’ and avoid relegation.
So if the start of the match was anything to go by, Hampshire would stand a fighting chance with three wickets inside the first nine overs, quickly vindicating captain James Vince’s decision to field first.
It was no surprise that the in-form Edwards was responsible for all three dismissals and the West Indian paceman looked threatening throughout the day.
However, it was their leading Championship runs-scorer Wessels who led the fight-back as he and Steven Mullaney (58) joined together for the highest partnership of their innings.
Liam Dawson’s first wicket of the match ended the stand worth 115 runs, but debutant Billy Root’s quickfire 37 had steered the home side past 200 and into a healthy position.
But it was to Hampshire’s credit that they managed to toil their way back into the match on a batsman friendly wicket with both Wessels and the experienced Chris Read (9) falling early in the evening session. Seamer Sean Ervine (1-11), not for the first time in his career, picking up an important wicket for Hampshire.
Nottinghamshire will be hoping England Test player Stuart Broad will make a difference with the ball this week, but it was with the bat that he impressed on the opening day – his 37 and Brett Hutton’s 46 led Nottinghamshire to 340 all-out.
There was only one ball of Hampshire’s reply played on day one with Broad dismissing Stevenson to leave the visitors 0-1 at stumps.
