CHRIS TREMLETT took the first hat-trick of his career as Hampshire returned to the top of the County Championship and roared: "Now we can win the title."

Fast bowler Tremlett sent Hampshire 12 points clear at the top of division one by dismissing Mark Ealham, Graeme Swann and Greg Smith with successive deliveries to help complete an astonishing 14-run win against previous leaders Notts at Trent Bridge.

He finished with 5-80 as Hampshire completed a fourth win in seven Championship games.

Tremlett said: "This was a 40-pointer and if they had won they'd be well clear with a game in hand and we'd be up against it.

"It the most shocking and unlikely victory I've ever been involved in. It keeps the confidence going and gives us the belief that we can win from any situation."

Tremlett added: "With ten overs to go they were scoring freely and were in the driving seat. We were just trying to hang on.

"Then we got a couple of breakthroughs that slowed down their run rate and when I came back on I just tried to keep it tight and stop them from scoring runs."

Tremlett's hat-trick included a catch from the injured wicketkeeper Nic Pothas at deep backward square leg, and two leg-side catches for deputy gloveman John Crawley.

Southampton-born Tremlett added: "I got a couple of hat-tricks for Thornden Secondary school and one for Hursley Park under-15s, but this is one I'll definitely remember.

"It was an unreal hat trick, they were all dug in short and I was a bit lucky to hit the gloves each time - but I'm not complaining!"

Tremlett's second five-wicket haul of the season was the perfect response to criticism of his body language after the defeat against Northants a week earlier.

He added: "It's the boost we needed after the Northants game. That was pretty tough and not a great performance by me, I have to say, but I felt a bit better with my rhythm this week and hopefully now I can get back to where I was a few weeks ago."