IT WAS the day that the all-conquering Notts attack finally ran out steam.

Time after time the Trent Bridge bowlers have been asked to run through brick walls for the cause, often because of the failures of their batsmen.

Time after time they have responded brilliantly to steer Notts to important victories in the four and one-day arenas.

But urged to find one last effort to carry the team to the cusp of a second County Championship title in four years, there appeared to be nothing left in the tank.

The verve and drive that has been the bedrock of their success disappeared much quicker than the lingering fog that delayed the start of play

Darren Pattinson was the most obvious example. He looked completely shattered at the end of a rigorous first county season.

Director of cricket Mick Newell admitted before play started the former Melbourne roof tiler was starting to feel the effects of the hard work he has put in.

It meant the opener did not even bowl until after lunch and even then his spell was short, not so sharp and not so sweet.

Other Notts seamers looked jaded too. Charlie Shreck appeared to lack his usual aggression while Mark Ealham failed to get the seam movement that has been his trademark throughout his career.

Between them, the usually wicket-laden trio managed just one solitary wicket in 51 overs.

The one man who did look slightly more sprightly was Andre Adams, who bowled well in the morning session without much luck.

The New Zealander went past the edge several times in the opening half hour without getting a deserved nick before trapping Michael Lumb lbw to claim the only wicket to fall before lunch.

But the truth was he lacked the requisite support at the other end in that initial spell to put any sustained pressure on the visiting batsmen.

Even spinners Graeme Swann and Samit Patel, so often a source of vital wickets, could not come up with the necessary inspiration.

Whatever the reason, mentally the hosts were not right and with only a smidgeon of success here and there throughout the day's play, their spirits only drained further as time ticked by.

In the afternoon session, it was left to Swann to toil away in a long spell and he did his best to cause Hampshire problems.

His first wicket, getting rid of Michael Brown lbw seven short of a century with a ball that turned sharply, brought a ray of hope for Notts, especially when Sean Ervine was caught by Will Jefferson at the second attempt off Ealham.

But those hopes were soon dashed by a fifth-wicket partnership of 85 between Chris Benham and wicket-keeper Nic Pothas that put Hampshire firmly in the driving seat once more.

Notts failed to take the new ball until the 85th over and made little impression with it anyway, so that, at tea, the pair had advanced the score to 262-4 and there was still more punishment to come.

By now the malaise that had enveloped the bowlers was even affecting ever-reliable keeper Chris Read as he dropped Pothas, on 39, four balls after tea from the bowling of Samit Patel.

And, after Chris Benham had been bowled by Patel's sharp turner, the skipper also shelled Liam Dawson on 19, who was then put down at forward short leg by Will Jefferson two balls later, both from Swann's bowling.

Both those missed opportunities proved costly as an unbeaten sixth wicket stand of 109 ensued.

Pothas advanced imperiously towards a century, which he completed with a cover boundary off Samit Patel just before stumps having taken 176 balls and accumulated 11 boundaries. Dawson, meanwhile, finished on 48 not out as Hampshire closed on 376-5.

Of course, Notts were hoping that events elsewhere would play into their hands and mean a draw could be good enough.

But a dominant performance by Durham against Kent at Canterbury means that is not going to happen.

The north-easterners notched up 500-8 declared in their first innings in reply to the hosts first innings 225 and then swiftly reduced Kent to 159-5 second time round, still needing 116 to make Durham bat again.

All round, it was a day everyone connected with Notts will want to forget – and means they now need a miracle to avoid being the bridesmaids for a second time in two weeks.