It would appear that Shane Warne does not believe in enforcing the follow on.

After ensuring maximum batting points with a total of 401, Hampshire bowled Notts out for just 147, a huge first innings lead of 254.

But Hampshire's captain resisted the temptation to ask Stephen Fleming to bat again.

In Ashes series past, Australia would make a habit of enforcing the follow on, but despite falling 104 runs short of the total needed to avoid it, Notts' openers were spared the ignominy of returning to the crease for a second time yesterday.

Hampshire's sensational win against Glamorgan after following on at The Rose Bowl in 2003 is a precedent that makes any captain aware of the risks involved.

But if Warne is ever going to make use of the follow on, the time to do it was surely against the champions at tea time yesterday.

Hampshire's bowlers only needed 42.4 overs to dismiss Notts for 147 so would still have been fresh enough to have made inroads into the visitors' batting given the chance to continue their momentum. But Warne decided not to chance it.

The prospect of bowling in the fourth innings is a far more welcome prospect than having to bat last.

So Warne let his bowlers put their feet up after watching Dimitri Mascarenhas run through the champions with season's best figures of 4-25.

That was after Hampshire lost their last five wickets for 43 runs to finish with a below-par 401 during the morning session John Crawley (106) was caught low down at second slip by David Hussey in the fourth over of the day, and Warne and Mascarenhas were both caught in the slips in successive overs.

Notts had lost both their openers at lunch, and Mascarenhas removed Fleming before beating Will Smith's forward defensive prod in successive overs at the beginning of the second session.

Mascarenhas also claimed the wicket of Chris Read, who drove wildly at a wide ball, and was caught at shoulder height by first slip Sean Ervine.

When Bruce had Mark Ealham caught behind in the next over, Notts were 96-6. Four overs later, they slipped further into the mire when Bruce trapped David Hussey (26 from 43 balls) lbw before Paul Franks edged Taylor to first slip.

Then Dominic Thornely was introduced, and he promptly removed AJ Harris' off stump before Swann gifted him a high return catch.

If anyone was grateful to Warne for his decision not to enforce the follow on, it was in-form pair Jimmy Adams and John Crawley.

Michael Carberry (23) looked in fine touch before he was caught at point but Adams (53 no from 140 balls) and Crawley (63no from 101 balls) added 96 unbeaten runs for the second wicket as Hampshire closed on 148-1, an overnight lead of 402.