Late blows from Steve O’Keefe and Ben Dwarshuis left Sydney Sixers needing eight off three balls, but Michael Neser sealed Adelaide Strikers’ second win with three yorkers

The Report by Alex Malcolm28-Dec-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsAdelaide Strikers belied expectations after holding their nerve against Sydney Sixers at the SCG.The Strikers were in control after high-quality innings from Alex Carey and Jonathan Wells and excellent Power-play bowling upfront left the Sixers needing 61 from 30 balls will no recognised batsmen left. But Steve O’Keefe, Johan Botha and Ben Dwarshuis found a way to reduce the equation to 22 off seven before O’Keefe and Dwarshuis hit consecutive sixes off Ben Laughlin and Michael Neser. Another well-run two made it eight runs off three balls but Neser responded with three pinpoint yorkers to secure the Strikers second straight win.Conversely, the talent-laden Sixers slumped to their third straight loss after their batting line-up failed to fire again.Lefties galore
The Strikers’ new-look top four is made up exclusively of left-handers. It allowed the Sixers to set up their attack specifically to counter them. The Sixers made several changes to the side that lost their first two matches. Moises Henriques was ill, with Botha standing-in as captain. Dwarshuis came in for Doug Bollinger as a like-for-like but the Sixers picked the extra right-arm off-spinner in Will Somerville specifically to counter the left-handers. Jake Weatherald has a poor record against left-arm quicks in the BBL and the trend continued after he skied a Dwarshuis short ball in the first over. Botha and Somerville were able to bowl six of the first 12 overs at Carey and Travis Head, conceding 40 runs between them and picking up Head. By the time Colin Ingram fell to Dwarshuis for a run-a-ball 15 the Strikers had only managed to score 7.23 per over through 13 overs and were headed towards a below-par total at the SCG.O’Keefe not used, Carey and Wells cash in
According to , Steve O’Keefe has the third-best economy rate at the SCG in the last three BBL seasons. Botha, understandably, did not use the left-arm spinner in the first 13 overs against the four left-handers. But when the right-handed Wells walked out, with one boundary significantly larger than the other, it seemed a perfect time to bring O’Keefe on. Instead, Botha opted for Somerville again. Wells nailed a sweep, with the turn, for four to get himself going. Wells and Carey put together an unbroken 74-run stand in the last seven overs to get the total up to 167 without facing a single delivery from O’Keefe.Carey displayed power and placement early to get to his maiden BBL half-century. But despite losing his timing late in the innings, his supreme fitness saw him sprint four twos and one three. He finished with an unbeaten 83 from 59 balls. Wells’ cameo was outstanding too. He hit two fours and a massive 104m six onto the roof of the Bill O’Reilly stand in the last four balls of the innings to finish with 33 not out from 19 balls.Strikers strike early again
Taking early wickets in the Powerplay has been Perth Scorchers’ modus operandi for years when defending totals. The Strikers look to have copied the blueprint, attacking with their seamers upfront. Billy Stanlake conceded just two runs in the first over. Jason Roy flicked him for a huge six in the third over, but Stanlake set the trap for Daniel Hughes tucking him up with two men back and Hughes picked out one of them on the boundary. Neser had Nic Maddinson nicking off with Carey completing an outstanding one-handed catch. Roy, who looked to be fighting his way out of a form slump, did not do his homework on Ben Laughlin, lofting a predictable slower ball first-up high to mid-off. The Sixers were 3 for 42 at the end of the Powerplay before spin was needed.Silk road too long
Jordan Silk did his best to make the chase interesting. In his first appearance for the season as a replacement for Henriques, he struck ball as sweetly as any batsman all night. He raced to 50 off 31 balls with seven classy boundaries. But when he chopped Rashid Khan onto his stumps all hope seemed lost.Rashid had earlier bowled the Sixers’ last recognised batsman in Sam Billings. Botha and O’Keefe kept hopes alive with a 17-run over off Neser. O’Keefe and Dwarshuis then raised heart-rates with two massive blows inside the last seven deliveries after Laughlin and Neser missed their lengths. But Neser found the mark with his last three to wrap up the Strikers’ win.

Rachin Ravindra’s 3 for 30 and Finn Allen’s unbeaten 115 took New Zealand home with eight wickets and 63 to balls to spare

Shashank Kishore in Tauranga13-Jan-2018
ScorecardRachin Ravindra and Finn Allen, two men who were part of New Zealand’s disastrous Under-19 World Cup campaign two years ago in Bangladesh where they finished tenth, opened the 2018 edition at home with stirring displays. West Indies, the defending champions, slumped to a eight-wicket defeat at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, the manner in which they collapsed reminiscent of their seniors, who endured a winless tour of New Zealand not too long ago.Ravindra picked three wickets with his left-arm spin while Allen, the No. 3 batsman, brought up a counter-attacking 92-ball century, his first in youth ODIs, as New Zealand cruised home with plenty to spare. Allen, who was unbeaten on 115, forged a second-wicket stand worth 163 with Jakob Bhula, who made 83. Ravindra’s dismissal for 16, flashing at a short and wide delivery that he nicked to the wicketkeeper off Ronaldo Alimohamed, was the only blot in an otherwise ruthless display.A hint of rain and a thick cloud cover made conditions ideal for West Indies’ pacers to exploit. But they sprayed the ball all over the pitch. Their sloppiness on the field didn’t help either. What could’ve been an intense contest turned rather cold halfway through the chase. Allen was strong square of the wicket, but his use of the sweep against spin was particularly impressive as he chugged along consistently at over a run-a-ball. Bhula, slightly more circumspect to begin with, grew in confidence but fell to a tame caught-and-bowled dismissal with the target within touching distance. Allen then saw off the chase with captain Kaylum Boshier just as rain started to spit down.While Allen polished off the runs, it was Ravindra who broke West Indies’ back after their openers Kimani Melius and Keagan Simmons, nephew of batsman Lendl Simmons, put together 123 in 27.2 overs to set a solid platform. Ravindra, who cleverly varied his pace and use of his angles, finished with 3 for 30 off seven overs as West Indies, handily placed at 149 for 2, were restricted to 223 for 8 in 50 overs. Simmons, who battled through the innings and looked set for his maiden youth ODI century, was left unbeaten on 92.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board, however, has not yet made an announcement of his unavailability

Mohammad Isam11-Feb-2018Bangladesh’s T20I plans were further dented when their captain Shakib Al Hasan said his finger injury hasn’t fully healed. On Saturday, Shakib was named in the 15-man squad announced for the first T20 against Sri Lanka, on February 15.”There is still no official statement regarding this issue but the doctor has told me that the injury will take another two weeks to heal. So, if that is the case then maybe it is unlikely that I will play in the T20 series,” he said.The Bangladesh Cricket Board has not made an announcement of his unavailability.Shakib injured his finger during the tri-series final on January 27, which ruled him out of the subsequent Tests against Sri Lanka. It would have been his first series in his second stint as the Test captain.Bangladesh’s T20I squad includes five uncapped cricketers who impressed during the 2017 BPL.

Tasmania dethroned three-time defending champions Victoria to face Queensland in their first Sheffield Shield final in five years

Alex Malcolm16-Mar-2018Andrew Fekete runs in to bowl•Getty Images and Cricket Australia

Tasmania has marched into its first Sheffield Shield final in five years after dethroning three-time defending champions Victoria on the back of a career-best 10-wicket haul from fast bowler Andrew Fekete.The Tigers began the third day with a lead of 235 and six second innings wickets in hand but looked in danger of failing to reach a lead of 300 after losing Matthew Wade and Simon Milenko early.Thomas Rogers came to the rescue with a sensational 80 which was laced with 13 boundaries. It was his first Sheffield Shield half-century. He was well supported by Jake Doran and Jackson Bird to set Victoria 378 for victory.The Bushrangers chase started disastrously when Fekete found the inside edge of Marcus Harris and outside edge of Glenn Maxwell from consecutive balls in the fourth over. Aaron Finch and Cameron White fell shortly after to leave the visitors 4 for 37 and they never recovered.Travis Dean and Dan Christian made useful contributions but Fekete accounted for both of them in his second spell to finish with 10 wickets for the match. Chris Tremain made 45 to go with his eight wickets in a losing cause.The Tigers will now face Queensland in the Sheffield Shield final seeking their first title since 2012-13.

Aggressive bodily contact, shoving, agitated yelling, pointed fingers and a shattered dressing room door, all marred the rancorous finish and the immediate aftermath, of the Nidahas Trophy match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh

Andrew Fidel Fernando in Colombo16-Mar-2018Aggressive bodily contact, shoving, agitated yelling, pointed fingers and a shattered dressing room door, all marred the finish and the immediate aftermath of the Nidahas Trophy match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.The shattered door was likely the doing of somebody inside the Bangladesh dressing room. An outward-facing camera caught a number of Bangladesh players racing down the steps in front of their dressing room as bits of glass were strewn on the stairs, the door probably having been shattered in those moments. Match Referee Chris Broad has seen the footage and spoken to some of the catering staff who have named the player they believe to be responsible, but Broad had suggested that those statements could not necessarily be taken as fact for the purposes of his work, and has asked for footage from the outside looking in. Bangladesh’s team management is understood to have offered to pay for the damage.The shoving – or one instance of it, at least – was by a Sri Lanka player on a Bangladesh substitute. The substitute had been on the field to deliver drinks immediately after the umpires had refused to award a no-ball when Isuru Udana delivered a second short-pitched delivery in the over. While batsman Mahmudullah was making an agitated case to the umpires, the substitute had become involved in a tense exchange with Sri Lanka players elsewhere on the field. He was pushed – not particularly hard, but not lightly either – as a group of Sri Lanka fielders followed him closely towards the boundary.Nurul Hasan and Thisara Perera were involved in a heated exchange•AFP

The shove, as well as the umpire’s refusal to award a no-ball, then tipped Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan into a fury. Shakib, along with several team-mates, immediately rushed to the edge of the boundary, where he entered into a heated exchange with reserve umpire Lyndon Hannibal. He then beckoned Mahmudullah and Rubel Hossain off the field, only the batsmen appeared very reluctant to follow those instructions, and ambled half-heartedly towards the boundary as many of the Sri Lanka fielders took their places. Eventually, Shakib relented and play was allowed to resume after the fracas had eaten up several minutes.After the winning runs were hit, the Bangladesh team charged the field, to enter into euphoric celebrations, but more vitriol was exchanged as the teams were walking out. This time it was Kusal Mendis – generally a composed and easy-going player – that was furiously pointing and yelling at someone in the Bangladesh group. Some senior Bangladesh players and interim coach Courtney Walsh were seen trying to calm tensions. Tamim Iqbal was gently restraining Mendis, and later put a friendly arm around his shoulder as the two exited the field. Mahmudullah was also seen taking an agitated Nurul Hasan – a substitute player – away from the crowd, to lecture him.After the match both sides were keen to play down the incident, but Shakib did confirm that it was the missed no-ball call that triggered Bangladesh’s indignation. He believed that one of the on-field umpires had initially called a no-ball when Udana delivered the second bouncer of the over, but had then reversed his decision. Throughout the tournament, all umpires have been Sri Lankans.”I don’t want to talk about it, but what happened was that the square-leg umpire called a no-ball and after a discussion they cancelled it,” Shakib said. “I didn’t think it was the right decision. I don’t know what happened after the first ball, which was a bouncer. But after the second ball, the umpire called a no-ball. We are all human, we should take it in the chin and move forward.There was also an admission that perhaps players, including himself, had allowed their emotions to get the better of them at the game’s denouement. “Many things happened that shouldn’t have happened. I need to remain calm. I was overjoyed. Excitement was there. I must know how to react next time. I will be careful.”What happens in the field should never spill over off the field. To be honest, we are all good friends. We see each other in the Bangladesh Premier League and Dhaka Premier League. The two boards have great relations. We help each other a lot. Just like I would want my team to win at all cost, they would have the same feeling. I am sure that both teams will never let it go off the field.”The ICC is yet to officially comment on the incidents, but is expected to do so on Saturday. The Nidahas Trophy final will be contested by Bangladesh and India on Sunday.

Ollie Pope’s second century of the season deepened the belief that he is a young batsman to reckon with

ECB Reporters Network11-May-2018
ScorecardOllie Pope celebrates his century•Getty Images

Ollie Pope enhanced his reputation as one of the best young batsmen in the country by scoring his second Specsavers County Championship hundred of the season to lead Surrey’s fightback against Yorkshire at the Kia Oval.England captain Joe Root, leading Yorkshire for only the fourth time after Gary Ballance was struck down by illness, saw Surrey slump to 69 for 4 on a well-grassed pitch.But Pope, who is playing only his tenth first-class match, added an unbeaten 131 to his 145 against Hampshire last month as Surrey recovered to 366 for 7 at stumps on day one.The 20-year-old helped Dean Elgar (61) add 68 for the fifth wicket then counter-attacked with Rikki Clarke in a punishing stand of 129 in 28.2 overs for the seventh wicket as batting conditions improved.Pope played some eye-catching shots through the off side and picked off anything aimed at his pads when Yorkshire’s seamers tried a leg-stump line. He left well too and his only moment of alarm came when he took a single into the covers to reach 50 and would have been run out had Harry Brook’s throw at the non-striker’s end hit the stumps.His second 50 came off 67 balls while Clarke offered made the most of a life on 16 when he was put down at slip by Cheteshwar Pujara. His 71 off 91 balls included ten fours and two sixes, both swiped over mid-wicket off Josh Shaw, and he reached 10,000 first-class runs when he was on 26.The stand was broken when Adam Lyth held on at the second attempt at second slip in Jack Brooks’ first over with the second new ball but Pope and Jade Dernbach punished some wayward bowling before stumps, adding 72 in 11 overs. Pope has faced 194 balls and hit 22 fours.Rikki Clarke has reached 10,000 runs•ESPNcricinfo Ltd

It was all in sharp contrast to a difficult morning for Surrey as the Yorkshire seamers shared four top-order wickets. England opener Mark Stoneman’s tough start to the domestic season – he has yet to pass 30 so far – continued when he was lbw half-forward to Tim Bresnan. Rory Burns became Brooks’ 400th first-class wicket, Scott Borthwick played a very loose shot outside off stump and Ben Foakes feathered a thin edge off Steve Patterson.Elgar stood firm though as he passed 50 for the first time since joining Surrey and it was a surprise when he lost his leg stump when Root came on after lunch to bowl his off-breaks. It was Root’s first Championship wicket for 13 months.When Patterson angled the ball across Sam Curran to pick up his second wicket Surrey were 162 for 6 but then Pope and Clarke changed the complexion of the day.

Australia coach wants his team to play hard, play fair, but not give an inch during their ODI tour of England

Andrew Miller at Lord's06-Jun-2018″Sledging is fun!” says Australia’s new coach!Okay, so Justin Langer was referring specifically to the “banter” (note: definitely NOT abuse …) that flies across the table when he and his daughters are playing the card game UNO. However, there was a steely message lurking within an otherwise amusing metaphor, as he and Tim Paine, Australia’s captain, faced the media at Lord’s in their first official engagement of this month’s tour of England.”Everyone talks about this word ‘sledging’, but there’s a difference between banter and abuse,” Langer said. “Abuse is no good – it doesn’t matter if you’re off the field or on the field, there’s no room for it ever. But there’s plenty of room for banter, or what we call sledging. It’s a fun part of the game!”If I’m playing with my daughter, she wants to beat me big time, so we have a bit of banter, or what we call sledging. She’s pretty good at it, all Australians are good at it, we take it so seriously, but that’s okay. I never abuse her, and if she abuses me … there’s trouble you know!”It was all said with a smile on the face, as Langer laid on a charm offensive to diffuse the tension that might have been anticipated – especially in what must surely have been the smallest room laid on for a press conference at Lord’s since Michael Atherton faced the music after his own ball-tampering scandal in 1994.But, after all of the talk of “headbutting the line” when England and Australia last met during the winter (as well as the widely held view that a line was crossed where Jonny Bairstow in particular was concerned), here was Langer’s attempt to draw a new line under the issue for Australia’s post-apocalyptic world.His squad, after all, have arrived in England without their best two batsman – Steve Smith and David Warner, banned in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal – and with none of their big three bowlers either; Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are all missing through injury.Therefore, to take the field at The Oval next week, against the No. 1 ODI team in the world, without recourse to the tongues in their heads would have been an indignity too far, especially for a team that has always prided itself on “playing hard and playing fair”, and which is desperate to earn back that reputation after a season defined by some grievous misdeeds.”We certainly we won’t be silent out in the field,” Paine said. “We are going to be speaking, we’re going to be trying to put pressure on opposition teams and players like we normally do, but there’s got to be a respectful element to it.”We know what’s right and what’s wrong, so it’s pretty simple,” he added. “But I’m sure you’re going to hear us talking through the stump mic and see us talking on the ground. It’s up to me and Justin, and our senior players, to make sure that we start on the side of banter and never go to abuse. While I’m captain and Justin is coach, that is not going to be accepted.”Justin Langer and Tim Paine face the media at Lord’s•Getty Images

A further Australian grandee will be on hand to help guide a young and inexperienced squad through the rigours of an England tour, with the news that Ricky Ponting, Langer’s former captain, has been recruited to the team’s support group. Ponting was already due to be in England on commentary duties for the series, but given the huge scrutiny on the tour, not to mention its significance to Australia’s defence of their World Cup title in England next summer, Langer felt that his “experiences, tactical expertise and leadership” would be invaluable.Ponting certainly knows a thing or two about dealing with hostile crowds, having become something of a pantomime villain on his two tours as Australia captain in 2005 and 2009. And Paine was under no illusions about the flak that was about to fly the way of his players.”We’ve spoken about this,” he said. “We think it’s going to be pretty full-on, we expect that when we come to England. All the time we cop a little bit of a ribbing and, this time, we come with a bit more reason for them to do it. But it’s one of the challenges of international cricket, and sides get it when they come to Australia, so it’s part and parcel of the game.”And yet, for all the focus on the merits, or otherwise, of sledging, it was another and far more damning word – “cheating” – that caused Australia’s behaviour to hit the headlines in South Africa. And with that in mind, Paine admitted that his team had arrived in England with a reputation to restore.”There’s no doubt our reputation as a cricketing nation took a bit of a battering from South Africa,” Paine said. “It was difficult for the players to come to terms with what happened and what we’d done, but certainly coming to England and having a few new faces, a new coach, and getting back into cricket is a great opportunity to move on and show the world that we have made changes.”But Langer, a hard-nosed veteran from Australia’s old school of world-beaters, was unapologetic about what was about to come to pass. And once again, though he spoke with a smile on his face, his subtext was unmissable.”Even if we are so nice, everyone is still going to think we are still a bunch of rough-edged Australians,” he said. “That’s just how it’s going to be, mate. So whatever, we can go about our business really well, behave well on the field and off the field, but we’ll still be called sledging Australians. It’s been happening the last 30 years. We’ll work with that.”We have written down our values and our expectations, and that’s really important,” he added. “But the truth is, and I’ve said this for 25 years, we can put all the fanciest mission statements and values together, and put the fanciest posters up on the wall, but if you don’t live them, they are like toilet paper. The words are irrelevant. It’s how we live them all the time that is going to be important.”

Leicestershire remain on course to win three consecutive championship matches for the first time in 20 years

ECB Reporters Network22-Jun-2018
ScorecardLeicestershire are strong favourites to win three consecutive championship matches for the first time in 20 years after setting Middlesex a fourth innings target of 381 to win their match at the Fischer County Ground, Grace Road.Increasingly variable bounce on the previously used pitch, evident throughout the Leicestershire second innings, makes it an even tougher prospect for the 2016 county champions.It was also a huge factor in the fall of the second last wicket of an absorbing day’s cricket, when Middlesex opener Sam Robson, having batted impressively in going to 31, received a delivery from Gavin Griffiths that both seamed back in and stayed horribly low to pin him leg before wicket.The dismissal broke a partnership of 51 between Robson and Steve Eskinazi, who came together after just three balls of the innings, when Max Holden had edged a Ben Raine delivery which both lifted and left him outside off-stump.Had Eskinazi and skipper Dawid Malan been together at the close, there would still have been real hope for the visitors, but with eight balls remaining in the day, Malan pressed forward to Raine and edged to wicketkeeper Hill to leave his team still needing 299 runs with just seven wickets in hand.The tone of a day which saw Middlesex show real spirit after conceding a huge first innings lead of 194 was set by Middlesex seamers Tim Murtagh and James Harris. Murtagh, having taken 5 for 52 in Leicestershire’s first innings, conceded just 14 runs in bowling 13 consecutive overs from the Bennett End, and with Harris almost equally parsimonious from the Pavilion End, Leicestershire opener Harry Dearden faced 71 balls in scoring just six runs before edging Murtagh to the wicketkeeper.By then Harris had bowled Colin Ackermann, scorer of 196 not out in the first innings for just 3, and when a disbelieving Mark Cosgrove went leg before to the occasional offspin of Holden, Leicestershire were struggling, the more so when Harris bowled Hill with a delivery which seamed back in.A stand of 50 between Raine and Neil Dexter gave Leicestershire’s innings a modicum of impetus, but Dexter will want to quickly forget his dismissal, wandering out of his crease after bottom edging a Murtagh delivery along the ground to wicketkeeper Simpson. The alert Simpson rolled the ball back on to the stumps, and Dexter, not attempting a single, had indeed been stumped.Leicestershire’s tail, as has regularly been the case this season, made useful contributions to drag the score up to 186, with Murtagh finishing with 3 for 27, and overall match figures of 8 for 79.

Durham have plenty of downtime ahead of Friday night’s Vitality Blast quarter-final against Sussex while Glamorgan’s coach has lots to ponder

ECB Reporters Network21-Aug-2018
ScorecardDurham’s bowlers needed only 8.2 overs to dismiss the remaining three Glamorgan batsmen at Sophia Gardens this morning to gain their third championship win of the season, and inflict on Glamorgan their third successive championship defeat and their sixth in the last seven games.Resuming on 79 for 7, Glamorgan soon lost Craig Meschede, who was leg before to Chris Rushworth in the fourth over of the day, and the Durham seamer struck again in his next two overs when he bowled Lukas Carey and Michael Hogan to end Glamorgan’s misery.The victory margin, an innings and 30 runs, was a fair reflection of Durham’s dominance throughout the game, while Glamorgan were to reflect on another hugely disappointing performance which will little to restore confidence or morale.Rushworth ended with 5 for 28, and match figures of 8 for 64 as throughout the match Glamorgan’s batsmen were unable to counter the movement Durham’s seamers obtained in both innings.It all left Glamorgan’s coach Robert Croft with much to ponder as he seeks to keep momentum in the season after the county’s failure to reach the last eight of the Vitality Blast.Had the weather not intervened in this game, Glamorgan would have been beaten inside two days in successive games, and although they have been unlucky with their overseas signings and Marchant De Lange, one of their leading bowlers, has been out injured since mid-May, the fact is that their young batsmen have been unable to cope with opposing attacks.Meanwhile, Durham, who will have an extra day off before Friday’s T20 quarter final game against Sussex at Chester Le Street, will be delighted with their performance, especially their two debutants Alex Lees and Axar Patel.Lees, signed from Yorkshire, was soon into his stride with an assured 69, while Indian all rounder Patel, took three wickets in the game and struck an aggressive 95 and rescue Durham following a mid -innings collapse.A dejected Glamorgan captain Michael Hogan said after the crushing defeat,”it was not ideal, it was just another of those days. The dressing room is pretty low at the moment, and we have to give them the opportunity to have some fun, and get some smiles back on their faces. We will have nets on Thursday and get some practice before the game against Warwickshire next week.”Durham seamer Chris Rushworth, who took eight wickets in the game, said” it was good to field in bowling conditions on the first day, and it suited our bowlers. We were clinical, and that’s what we need to be to beat the teams around us in the championship. Everyone contributed, and it was a very satisfying victory”

Fidel Edwards bagged his best figures for Hampshire to earn a significant lead

ECB Reporters Network20-Aug-2018
ScorecardJames Vince crashed his 23rd first-class century as Hampshire put themselves in a strong position in their Specsavers County Championship fixture against Nottinghamshire.Vince, who lost his place in the England Test line-up after a disappointing winter in Australia and New Zealand, effortlessly collected 147.His innings was backed up by Tom Alsop, who notched his 10th career half century, and Fidel Edwards’ best bowling figures for the county.Edwards had been the main architect with his analysis of 6 for 50 as Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 166 in the morning session.But the afternoon belonged to Vince, who scored his first 50 from 65 balls to go alongside his first innings 74. The prime attribute of Vince’s innings was his supreme sprinting between the wicket, which saw his score increase quickly and put pressure on both the fielders and the bowlers.He had been brought to the crease in just the second over when Jimmy Adams was beaten by a swinging delivery from Mark Footitt. Vince soon saw Joe Weatherley lbw to Matt Milnes and Sam Northeast caught behind off Steven Mullaney.Vince offered no clear chances in his almost flawless innings, although popped up two leading edges into gaps either side of reaching his landmark. Nottinghamshire skipper Mullaney appeared lost for plans to dismiss Vince, with three extra covers deployed at one stage in an attempt to lure a mishit drive.Vince appeared in no mood to lose his wicket and reached three figures for the third time this season in 139 balls.For all Vince’s guile, Alsop played the anchor for the partnership as he scored slowly, yet effectively. He eventually reached a half-century in 112 deliveries, brought up with an out of place swipe over long-on for six.Vince and Alsop collected career records, moving past 9,000 and 1,000 first-class runs, as the fourth wicket reached a stand of 171 before Milnes knocked over his off stump. But the damage had been done with Hampshire reaching close with a lead of 364, with Alsop unbeaten on 63.Nottinghamshire had started the day staring at a heavy first innings deficit after Edwards’ day one evening spell of 3 for 9. And Edwards didn’t let up in the morning as he struck in just the second over of the day, with Samit Patel failing to add to his overnight total as he was lbw.Edwards almost added Riki Wessels to his list of victims, but Rilee Rossouw spilled a regulation chance at first slip with the batsman on 3. But Wessels only managed another eight runs before Kyle Abbott struck him on the pads with a hint of nip back into him.Nottinghamshire had needed somebody to steady the ship, like Vince had done in Hampshire’s first innings, and their own captain Mullaney somewhat fit the bill. Mullaney countered with 38 off 53 balls but before he could get away Gareth Berg teased him outside his off stump to edge behind.Luke Fletcher continued the aggression with a quick-fire 43, which saw him smash Abbott for a six over midwicket alongside seven more bludgeoned boundaries. But he failed to control a strike across the line against the extra pace of Edwards and skied to Liam Dawson at long-on.Edwards completed his six-wicket haul by dislodging Matt Carter’s leg stump with a yorker, before he completed the Nottinghamshire innings by catching Billy Root at long-on.