The departure of Michael Brown to join Surrey has come at a timely moment indeed for Jimmy Adams. His opening place is less questioned and, besides, he is thought to have the temperament, even the three initials, to lead Hampshire in the future. His innings of 112 was his highest score at the Rose Bowl, one that ensured his side would make a reasonable total on a pitch starting to take some sharp spin for Samit Patel, who finished with five wickets.
The concern for Hampshire is that they have to bat last. Not that they contended particularly well with the quicker bowlers, Adams apart, for Luke Fletcher, who had batted so entertainingly the previous day, now took three wickets. Michael Lumb did contribute 43 but others went cheaply, including James Vince, an 18-year-old from the county’s academy who had shown distinct signs of promise by taking three fours off four balls from Charlie Shreck.
Adams is a characteristic left-handed opener in that he is not disconcerted by having played and missed at the previous ball. Or that is the impression he gives. He faced 197 balls and hit 20 fours, reaching his century with a square-cut four off Patel, who could have done with another spinner at the other end after tea. Still, anyone out of favour with England’s selectors will be well satisfied with a five-wicket haul. This was the first of Patel’s career.
He lured Lumb well down the pitch and had him stumped by Chris Read. Adams was eventually caught at short leg off one that lifted. Nic Pothas was held in the same position and Imran Tahir recklessly swung the second ball he faced to mid-on. This after David Griffiths, his fifth victim, had taken the two remaining Nottinghamshire wickets in the morning, giving him figures of four for 48.
Nottinghamshire: First Innings
W I Jefferson c Pothas b Ervine12
B M Shafayat c Benham b Griffiths 20
M A Wagh c Ervine b Griffiths 21
S R Patel c Pothas b Tomlinson 41
A C Voges lbw b Tahir 25
A D Brown c Cork b Ervine 5
*†C M W Read c Pothas b Ervine 16
M A Ealham not out 70
L J Fletcher b Tahir 92
D J Pattinson c Cork b Griffiths 12
C E Shreck b Griffiths 5
Extras (lb 3, nb 4) 7
Total (103.2 overs) 326
Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-34, 3-60, 4-123, 5-125, 6-146, 7-147, 8-299, 9-320.
Bowling: Cork 15-5-36-0; Tomlinson 21.1-6-73-1; Ervine 13.5-7-22-3; Griffiths 16.2-4-48-4; Tahir 34-5-130-2; Carberry 2-0-7-0; Adams 1-0-7-0.
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Hampshire: First Innings
M A Carberry c Jefferson b Fletcher 27
J H K Adams c Shafayat b Patel 112
M J Lumb st Read b Patel 43
J M Vince c Jefferson b Ealham 13
C C Benham c Jefferson b Fletcher 13
*†N Pothas c Shafayat b Patel 36
S M Ervine c Read b Fletcher 1
D G Cork not out 21
Imran Tahir c Ealham b Patel 0
D A Griffiths c A D Brown b Patel 1
J A Tomlinson not out 0
Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 3, nb 14) 20
Total (9 wkts, 88 overs) 287
Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-166, 3-185, 4-211, 5-238, 6-254, 7-266, 8-266, 9-287.
Bowling: Pattinson 16-3-62-0; Shreck 14-1-59-0; Fletcher 16-3-56-3; Patel 27-10-77-5; Ealham 15-7-30-1.
Umpires: R J Bailey and J F Steele.