County Championship: Stone impresses for Notts against Hampshire

Olly Stone pushed his claims for an England recall with his best Championship bowling figures in four years as Nottinghamshire and Hampshire reached the halfway stage of their match almost on level terms.

Stone took 4-62 with new-ball partner Dillon Pennington backing him up with 3-70, but Hampshire, after slipping to 77-5 with Tom Prest unable to bat after suffering an injury in the field, dug deep to claim a first-innings lead of 41.

All-rounder Liam Dawson (95) and veteran seamer Keith Barker (74) led the way with a sixth-wicket stand of 157 to help Hampshire recover to 276 all out.

Nottinghamshire suffered a setback when skipper Haseeb Hameed to the second ball of their second innings but ended day two on 33-1, just eight runs behind.

Earlier, Nottinghamshire all-rounder Lyndon James had turned his overnight 92 into a first century of the season, finishing unbeaten on 106 as the home side were bowled out for 235.

If he can stay fit, Stone’s express pace would make him an attractive proposition as England look for a bowling reset with James Anderson about to follow Stuart Broad into retirement.

He needed only three balls to make his first impact of the day, finding the edge of Ali Orr’s defensive bat.

Felix Organ, dropped off Stone at third slip on three, had added only two more when Stone found the edge again and Hampshire were 61-3 at lunch with skipper James Vince falling to Dane Paterson.

Pennington then sent back Fletcha Middleton soon after the resumption and when Stone returned to claim his third wicket as Ben Brown nudged one to third slip, Hampshire were five down and still 158 behind.

But Dawson and Barker mounted an impressive recovery before being parted soon after tea when Stone returned for a third spell to knock back Barker’s off stump.

James Fuller (13) helped Dawson add another 36 before Pennington struck again and Hampshire’s innings ended relatively quickly in the absence of Prest.