Half centuries from Samit Patel and Riki Wessels enabled Nottinghamshire to reach 302 after opting to bat first on the opening day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Hampshire at Trent Bridge.

Patel made 73, scoring his runs from 92 balls, with 12 fours. He shared in a partnership of 95 with Ross Taylor, who hit 47, before Wessels anchored the second half of the innings with 54 from 89 balls.

Fidel Edwards was the pick of the Hampshire bowlers, taking four for 84.

In the final session of the day Stuart Broad picked up two wickets and Luke Fletcher grabbed another as Hampshire closed on 70 for three, still 232 runs behind.

It was the fourth wicket partnership between Patel and Taylor that altered the complexion of the morning session, after the hosts had been reduced to 27 for three.

Taylor, on his home debut for Notts, followed up his fifties against Yorkshire and Worcestershire with a stylish innings that contained eight boundaries and appeared in little difficulty before a miscommunication with his batting partner resulted in an unnecessary run out.

Patel became Edwards’ third victim, as the first ball of a come-back spell was pulled into the hands of deep square leg.

Useful contributions followed from Tom Moores for Notts, who continued his steady start to the campaign with 29, and Broad who added 33 in an enterprising stand of 54 with Wessels, who reached his own fifty from 86 balls with seven fours and a six.

Fletcher gloved behind and was followed back by Wessels, who pulled Brad Wheal to Liam Dawson in the deep.

Nottinghamshire’s last pair scrambled a final batting point before Dawson bowled Jake Ball for 11, leaving Harry Gurney undefeated on 16.

Hampshire lost Jimmy Adams for nought in the second over, to Broad, who also removed Joe Weatherley, thanks to a juggling catch at third slip from Taylor.

James Vince made just five, before being pinned lbw by Fletcher but Hashim Amla and Riley Rossouw remained together in an unbroken partnership of 47 in the final hour of the day.

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