Newell happy with Notts position

Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell believes a first-innings lead will be crucial in determining the fate of the LV County Championship Division One title.

Newell saw his side reduce visitors and fellow challengers Hampshire to 199 for nine at the close on the opening day of the final round of matches at Trent Bridge.

And although there were some raised eyebrows among observers when skipper Chris Read chose to field on a dry, slow pitch, Newell is confident it will prove the correct decision.

He said: "There wasn't a great deal of sideways movement in the pitch, and it wasn't as helpful as we might have liked, but we have got to be pleased with where we are.

"We think that on the basis of this season, it's best to be batting on the second and third days of the match and are now in a position to take advantage of that.

Nottinghamshire restricted Hampshire to 199 for nine with some tight bowling at Trent Bridge

"Now we need to get a lead and put the pressure back on Hampshire. With the table as it is, if we can bowl them out cheaply and put the runs on the board, they may well be out of the title race and we'll see how they react to that."

The pressure appeared to be building on Nottinghamshire when Hampshire's openers survived the first hour, but Read then brought on medium-pacers Andre Adams and Mark Ealham with the pair forcing the breakthrough.

Tight bowling from the home attack never let the visitors take the initiative and Newell admitted the pitch is not easy to score on.

"We kept things under control all day and even when we weren't taking wickets, we didn't let the game get away from us," he said.

Notts will claim their first piece of silverware since Stephen Fleming's men won the title in 2005 if they can force a victory, while Hampshire must pass 250, claim maximum bowling bonus points and win while relying on Somerset and Durham slipping up to lift the trophy themselves.

Newell added: "I've got time on my hands so I can see what's going on in the games with the other challengers.

"It looks as though there will be positive results in all the games so we have to make sure we get the win ourselves - but the situation is in our own hands.

"It might not be too easy to score on but we will still go out there looking to be positive with the bat."