Hants (319 & 393) have beaten Notts (245 & 291) by 176 runs

Hampshire are off the bottom of the Specsavers County Championship's first division - after a career-best performance from Brad Wheal.

The teenager finished with 6-51 on a dramatic final day at Trent Bridge as Hampshire completed the double over their nearest rivals.

Chasing a monumental target of 468, from a minimum of 118 overs, the home side fought strongly on the final day before being bowled out for 291.

Steven Mullaney made 137 for the home side, batting for a total of 308 minutes. 

His runs came from 277 deliveries, with 19 fours and a six but after his departure the ‘Wheals came off’ as Notts slid to their sixth defeat of the season.

Resuming from their overnight score of 42-2, Nottinghamshire’s only realistic aim was to try and bat through the day for a draw.

That seemed likely as Mullaney and Taylor held the visiting attack at bay until just before tea.

Their fourth wicket stand of 162 began to encourage some home supporters that a dramatic and unlikely victory charge was still possible.

That all changed either side of the afternoon interval, as Wheal picked up three victims in quick succession as Notts lost five wickets in 49 balls, whilst adding only 17 runs.

Mullaney’s hundred – the eleventh of his career - had come from 191 balls, with 17 fours and shortly afterwards he passed 1,000 first class runs for the season.

But his dismissal, to a leading edge off Wheal that flew to Gareth Berg at short extra cover, opened the floodgates. 

Samit Patel fell next ball, caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Lewis McManus.

Taylor had reached a dogged fifty from 93 balls but edged Mason Crane to slip in the final over of the middle session. 

Crane’s unfinished over accounted for Luke Wood and then Wheal, who had removed Michael Lumb in the early part of the day, pinned Jake Ball lbw.

Chris Read produced his usual act of defiance in making 23 but both he and Harry Gurney were bowled by Wheal to bring the contest to an end with 24 overs to spare.

Hampshire completed the double against Notts with their second win of the season, earning 22 points and lifts them within catching distance of a cluster of other sides.

With four matches left, a repeat of last season’s remarkable survival remains a possibility.

On the other hand, these are bleak times for followers of Specsavers County Championship cricket at Trent Bridge. 

Nottinghamshire are without a win in 11 matches and relegation would spell the end of a nine-year stay in the top flight.