County Championship: Harry Gurney gives Notts hope of unlikely win

Harry Gurney has taken 20 Championship wickets this season

Nottinghamshire will look to claim the final two Hampshire wickets early on the final day as they push for an unlikely victory at the Ageas Bowl.

The away side were bowled out for 189 with Mason Crane claiming three scalps, while Riki Wessels hit 72.

Hampshire's second innings began poorly as they fell to 24-3, after Michael Carberry fell for an 11-ball duck.

Will Smith's half-century and an unbeaten 32 from Ryan McLaren saw the hosts close on 189-8, a lead of 270.

Notts captain Chris Read was forced to retire with a hand injury and Crane quickly claimed his first wicket of the innings as Dan Christian chopped onto his stumps.

The leg-spinner accounted for Brett Hutton and Luke Fletcher in between Liam Dawson having Wessels caught by Sean Ervine.

Gurney, who also took 4-61 in Hampshire's first innings, continued where he had left off with the ball, removing the struggling Carberry and bowling Dawson, while Luke Fletcher had Jimmy Adams caught in the slips.

Hampshire recovered as Smith (62) and Ervine (45) shared a 78-run fourth-wicket partnership before the latter went lbw to left-armer Gurney.

McLaren provided further assistance, although Notts will be hoping to dismiss the South African early on Wednesday if they are to claim their second Championship win of the season.