Sonny Baker celebrated his Test call-up with his best bowling figures but Hampshire‘s batting faltered again to give Nottinghamshire the scent of victory at Utilita Bowl.

Baker produced two searing spells either side of lunch to claim 5 for 45 and prove why he was named in the squad to face New Zealand next month. His excellent figures, after Kyle Abbott had taken 4 for 40, meant Nottinghamshire could only take a 15-run first innings lead despite Liam Patterson-White’s 48.

But Hampshire couldn’t capitalise as they slipped to 82 for 4 by stumps for a slim 67-run lead going into the final day.

Baker hadn’t played a first-class match at the start of 2025, after a series of back injuries had thwarted his early years at Somerset. He debuted for England Lions in January of that year, made his Rothesay County Championship bow four months later – where Jonny Bairstow was his first wicket – and this is still only the 12th red-ball match of his career.

And yet his England acknowledgement has not been a surprise, with this his fourth five-wicket haul. In that time, he has gained a reputation for devastating short-pitched bowling at high speeds, and while three of his five here came while digging the ball into the pitch, those deliveries are built on pressure skilfully gained from traditional line and length.

Ben Slater had been suckered into a short ball on day two, while Lyndon James and last man out Patterson-White also were unable to control hook shots. The other two wickets came via irresistible full pace, with Fergus O’Neill losing his off stump and Olly Stone pinned lbw – Baker’s 13 balls after lunch drew figures of 3 for 4 as Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 229.

Much of that low total, before Baker’s tearaway spell, was down to Abbott and his unerringly accurate bowling. He got the day rolling when he had compatriot Kyle Verreynne leg-before, and then Sam Seecharan – on debut after coming in as an injury replacement for Freddie McCann, who was struck on the thumb yesterday – was tied up before getting caught behind.

The other wicket in the innings fell to Delano Potgieter, his first Championship scalp of a tidy 20 overs when Jack Haynes prodded to second slip.

Hampshire’s batting has been the main reason they are bottom of the table, and before they had knocked off the first-innings deficit, they had already lost Toby Albert. O’Neill took five in the first innings and had Albert lbw with a wobble ball, before making Fletcha Middleton his seventh scalp of the match with an edge behind.

Nick Gubbins’ loose hoick was also caught behind, off Olly Stone, as Hampshire slumped to 30 for 3. Tom Prest somewhat improved things by adding 43 with Jake Lehmann, but top-edged a James short ball to fine leg, shortly before rain cut short the day.