Intuitive fielding from Ali Brown ended Chris Nash’s 135 run stand as Nottinghamshire secured a first innings lead and inched closer to a second-place finish in the LV= County Championship.

Nash was the architect of an otherwise disastrous first innings for Sussex as they slumped to 243 all out in reply to 328, giving Notts maximum bowling bonus points.

Reading Nash’s shot selection off the bowling of Samit Patel, Brown ran from slip to leg slip to take a fine catch, capping a solid day in the field. Bilal Shafayat was dismissed in the first over of Nottinghamshire’s second innings, going lbw to Collymore for four.

"I tried something similar against Durham when Dale Benkenstein was batting and managed to get my hand to the ball but couldn't hold on to it so when I saw Nash's hands move for the shot I got into the position and this time I held on to it," said Brown.

"Nash had already played that shot twice before so I decided to try and pre-empt it if he looked like trying it for a third time. He'd rode his luck a bit with edges that didn't carry but he was a key wicket because their second highest score was only 21.

"The bowlers did very well today and now we have to bat with discipline and try and play through three or four sessions. We've got the bonus points and we know that a draw will probably be good enough to give us second place but we want to push for the win."

Chris Read failed in his bid for a fifth first class century of the season after he was trapped lbw by Collymore for 88 and Sussex eased to 61 without loss at lunch.

Nash's 135 from 196 balls included 22 fours but either side of his dismissal, Sussex lost regular wickets and will now be relegated to Division Two after an eight year stint in the top flight.