County Championship: Even first day for Hampshire against Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire batters Jack Haynes and Freddie McCann continued to score runs against Hampshire in their County Championship on an even first day at Utilita Bowl.

Haynes and McCann both collected centuries in the reverse fixture at Trent Bridge in May, before each picking up half-centuries on the south coast.

Haynes ended the day unbeaten on 70, after McCann was dismissed for 79 – one of two scalps for Kyle Abbott, with Eddie Jack also picking up a couple of wickets.

Nottinghamshire ended the day on 241-5, with neither side able to complain too much about their position in the match.

Haseeb Hameed called incorrectly at the toss and was inserted on a very green looking pitch, with plenty of threatening clouds overhead.

The Nottinghamshire captain was the only victim in a truncated nine overs before rain came down – which lumped 30 overs off the day. The highly talented Jack got Hameed chasing a wide delivery which seamed even further away to edge behind.

Hampshire’s slip fielding which had blighted them at Trent Bridge returned for another two dollies put down in the cordon.

Tilak Varma unsuccessfully juggled to spill Ben Slater, while Joe Weatherley gave McCann a life from first slip.

While Slater did not make the most of the drop – he scored just two more runs before he was bowled by Abbott – McCann did.

The 20-year-old’s season has been plagued by unfulfilled starts save for his 79 against Durham and the 138 against Hampshire.

He weathered the early Kookaburra ball movement, which Abbott had on a string, and was backed up by Jack and Sonny Baker.

McCann rebuilt from 31-2 with Joe Clarke and Haynes – putting on 74 and 43 – in a non-flashy, but effective manner.

He dominated square of the wicket in a 65-ball half-century, his sixth in first-class cricket.

Clarke and Haynes were happier to take risks with their shot-making in the partnerships as runs became easier as the day progressed and the ball softened.

Hampshire bypassed that with a plan, which worked to see off Clarke and McCann.

It revolved around slightly shorter pitch bowling and a fly gully – aiming to capitalise on the amount of balls being hit square on the offside.

Clarke could not keep down a cut shot to pick up the odd field placing, while McCann stuck his bat up like a periscope to unusually guide to the man.

Kyle Verreynne returned for the first time since becoming a world champion, having helped South Africa to the ICC World Test Championship.

He was punchy in his quick-fire 42 before Jack drew a false pull, which was wonderfully caught by the sprawling James Fuller at deep square. Jack picked up a deserved second to end his first home Championship day 2-57.

Haynes passed his fifty in 54 balls before slowing towards the close, with Lyndon James now for company.

Bad light prematurely knocked off another 23 balls from the day’s play.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters’ Network, supported by Rothesay