Edwards shines against but Hants face uphill battle

NOTTINGHAM, England, CMC – Ex-West Indies speedster, Fidel Edwards, took his wickets-tally for the season to 20 from four matches with a three-wicket haul here

yesterday, but Hampshire were left facing a mammoth task to beat Nottinghamshire in their Division One County Championship match.

Resuming the penultimate day at Trent Bridge on 136 without loss, Notts piled up 389 for nine declared in their second innings with captain and opener Steven Mullaney top-scoring with 130 and New Zealand batting star Ross Taylor hitting an entertaining 83 from 69 deliveries. Mullaney, on 82 overnight, put on 155 for the first wicket with Jake Libby who made 54 while Taylor and Samit Patel (36) added a further 96 for the fourth wicket.

The 36-year-old Edwards, who played 55 Tests, finished with three for 60 to post

match-figures of seven for 144.

It was he who got the breakthrough when he removed Libby to a diving catch at slip by Jimmy Adams. Edwards returned near the end to help restrict Notts as four wickets

tumbled for 18 runs before the declaration came.

Set a massive 469 for victory, Hampshire ended the day on 111 for three, still requiring a further 358 runs for victory.