Nottinghamshire consolidated their position at the top of the Specsavers County Championship First Division table with their third victory of the season.

They overcame stubborn final day resistance to defeat Hampshire by a margin of 203 runs at Trent Bridge.

Set an unlikely 469, the visitors survived until midway through the final session before being bowled out for 265, leaving Notts to celebrate a 22-point success.

Hashim Amla made 112 before being last out, one of three victims for Jake Ball, who took three for 64. Stuart Broad and Harry Gurney each returned figures of three for 57.

Resuming on 111 for three, Hampshire lost a wicket in the first over of the day, with nightwatchman Chris Wood losing his off pole to Jake Ball for his overnight 13.

Amla gained an early reprieve, also on 13, when he was put down at second slip off Ball – the South African international offered little else from then on, batting for a total of five hours.

His former international team-mate, Riley Rossouw, stubbornly resisted for over an hour in making seven, before being drawn into pushing at Broad and edging to Riki Wessels at first slip.

Both physios were busy in the morning session, as Notts’ wicketkeeper Tom Moores had lengthy treatment for a thumb injury but was able to continue.  Liam Dawson wasn’t so lucky, having to retire hurt on six, having sustained a blow to the hand from Gurney.

Amla’s half-century came up in the final over of the morning session, a landmark reached from 104 balls, with seven fours.

Lewis McManus, also nursing sore fingers after being struck earlier in the match, applied grit and concentration for 66 minutes in making just two from 58 deliveries. It took the second new ball – and the extra bounce of Broad – to see him off, as a nick flew behind off the shoulder of the bat.

Kyle Abbott also lasted for over an hour in making 10 but a lapse in concentration provided another slip catch for Wessels off Ball’s bowling.

Dawson bravely returned to the middle but only added two more runs to his earlier six before being pinned in front by Gurney, who also dismissed Brad Wheal.

Amla’s 100, the 51st of his first class career, came from 179 deliveries and was achieved with an exquisite straight drive off Ball, his 13th boundary.

Having faced a total of 203 deliveries, with 15 fours, the former ICC Number One Test batsman eventually departed, pulling at Ball and ballooning an easy catch to Ross Taylor in the covers.

Nottinghamshire’s victory moves them 19 points clear at the top of the table, ahead of their home fixture next weekend against Lancashire.

Hampshire’s second defeat of the campaign delivered only four bonus points and they will be looking for a return to better times when they make the trip to Taunton to face Somerset in their next match.

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