Centuries from Ali Brown and Chris Read left Nottinghamshire in pole position to claim their third LV County Championship win of the season as they turned the screw on Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

After Mark Ealham finished off Hampshire’s first innings by trapping Dominic Cork lbw with just eight runs added to the overnight total, Notts found themselves in trouble as they slipped to 47-4.

But Brown combined with Adam Voges (49) to steady the ship with an 110-run partnership for the fifth wicket, before putting on 186 for the sixth wicket ahead of Notts declaring on 380-6.

Brown was finally caught off the part-time bowling of Michael Carberry for 148, having hit 24 fours, in what was his first century in first-class cricket since 2006.

Read finished unbeaten on 116 for his second ton of the season, with 17 fours and a six, before declaring and leaving the hosts to chase 412 to win.

And Hampshire’s plight got even tougher, as first innings centurion James Adams edged Darren Pattinson to Read behind the stumps, leaving Hampshire 9-1  at the close.