HAMPSHIRE kept up the pressure on county championship leaders Sussex with a stunning victory in three days over champions Nottinghamshire.

James Bruce wrapped up the win at the Rose Bowl with a five-wicket haul while John Crawley earlier reached 116 in the hosts' second innings before he was caught in the deep.

Nottinghamshire's 299-run loss with a day to spare means Hampshire moved second in the table, only five points behind leaders Sussex in the Liverpool Victoria County Championship.

Since Shane Warne arrived back from Australia, the south coast county have won four of their last five matches and the way they demolished the sorry champions will provoke hopes of a first title win for 33 years.

Nottinghamshire's day began in the worst possible way when they lost pace bowler Andrew Harris who injured a small toe bowling the first ball of the day. Paul Franks was obliged to complete the remainder of the over.

Hampshire were already in a powerful position, 402 ahead at 148 for one in their second innings - and there was no respite for the weakened Nottinghamshire attack.

Crawley, who made 106 in the first innings, went on to make 116, dominating a stand of 172 for the second wicket with James Adams.

Adams made 80 before he went down the wicket to Graeme Swann and gave a simple catch to Stephen Fleming at slip.

Crawley, who spent more than six hours in the first innings labouring over his century, was altogether quicker this time.

He straight drove Mark Ealham for six before being last out, caught on the midwicket boundary by the diving Jason Gallian.

Crawley's second century of the match also included 14 fours from 159 balls and was further evidence of his career-long domination of the Nottinghamshire bowlers.

Since making his debut for Lancashire and then joining Hampshire, Crawley averages almost 90 and of the seven centuries he has scored for Hampshire, these two were his third and fourth at the expense of luckless Nottinghamshire.

Warne was allowed the luxury of being able to declare at 251 for three, setting Nottinghamshire an unlikely 506 to win on a wicket of variable bounce.

Only now was there any resistance with Darren Bicknell and Gallian putting on 70 for the first wicket - but Warne removed them both before lunch to set up the prospect of victory.

Gallian was Nottinghamshire's top scorer with 67, and a promising innings ended when he gave Warne a return catch.

After lunch it was the turn of the uncapped Bruce to dominate proceedings with a spell of five wickets in six overs as Nottinghamshire's middle-order fell away.

Bruce had Will Smith leg before on the back foot and then removed David Hussey and Chris Read to further demoralise the champions.

Bruce continued by having Chris Read caught at mid-off by Shaun Udal off a slower delivery and completed his memorable afternoon by have Swann caught at the wicket.

Warne returned to dismiss last man Charlie Shreck but the hero was Bruce, whose figures of five for 43 were the best of his career.