THERE is something about Pakistani leg-spinners that brings out the worst in Notts batsmen on the biggest Trent Bridge occasions.

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Back in 2006, the club needed just one batting point to avoid relegation from the County Championship, but were bowled out for 165 almost single-handedly by Mushtaq Ahmed.

Yesterday it was the turn of Hampshire's wrist spinner, Imran Tahir, to devastate Notts – and severely hit their hopes of claiming a second County Championship title in four years in the process.

The circumstances behind the two final match-changing performances are uncannily similar.

Two years ago, a Notts side containing the likes of Stephen Fleming and David Hussey were pushing along comfortably at 143-3.

But then the dismissal of Samit Patel for 35 by Robin Martin-Jenkins heralded a spectacular collapse that saw seven wickets go down for 22 as Mushtaq pounced.

Mick Newell's men looked in an equally strong position on this occasion, only to implode once more as soon as Patel exited for 70 to James Tomlinson.

From 172- 4, they were 211 all out, losing their last seven wickets for just 39, with the dangerous Tahir doing much of the damage.

Yet there was some doubt he would even play because of his commitments in South Africa.

Ironically, Tahir was treated with contempt by Patel and Ashwell Prince in his early spells, going for plenty of runs as the Notts pair put on 116 for the fourth wicket.

Patel, though, was not just severe on the spinner. He also hammered everyone else who came into the attack, scoring his runs from just 71 balls, with 14 boundaries.

It was the kind of innings to give the national selectors a timely nudge ahead of them naming the England Test squad to tour India in December, which is to be announced on Monday.

The home-grown player has scored exactly 900 runs this first-class season at an average of 50 following on from his 963 at 50.68 in 2007.

On that basis alone, right-hander Patel surely has to be under consideration. But the fact he can also bowl useful left-arm spin means Geoff Miller and Co could do a lot worse than picking the burgeoning 23-year-old.

Patel's only failing was to not convert his start into three figures, which was to have massive consequences.

Suddenly, confronted by new batsmen, Tahir ripped out the hosts' lower and middle order with 4-9 in 24 deliveries.

The most immediate result of the collapse, as Prince was last out for a patient 57 (121 balls, nine fours, one six), meant that Notts took just one bonus point from their batting. They can now be caught in the race for top spot if they draw and Durham beat Kent at Canterbury.

But the wider ramifications were soon obvious once Hampshire had rattled along to 102-1 in their second innings by the close with Michael Brown scoring an unbeaten 50.

Notts' tactics in this game were to emulate what they did in thumping Surrey by an innings at the Oval last week – bowl the opposition out fairly cheaply, put a massive score on the board and then run through the batting again.

But it now could like back-firing, not because of their bowlers, who again did a sterling job yesterday, but because of the top order batting's inability to capitalise on a good position.

Batting against Tahir in a fourth innings change of a wearing pitch is going to be a hugely difficult task.

So early wickets today, to limit the score the hosts have to chase, will not just be important but vital to their cause.

Of course, it is by no means all doom and gloom for Newell's charges – there is still a lot of cricket to be played.

And the good thing for them is, unlike in 2006, there is the opportunity for second innings redemption.