Nottinghamshire lost 13 wickets on the third day of their LV= County Championship match against Sussex at Trent Bridge and were forced to follow-on for the second match running, as they closed on 103-4 in the second innings.

Still 74 away from making Sussex bat for a second time, the home side are in danger of ending the season with a disappointing defeat.

Mick Newell, director of cricket, found a positive in the performance of Karl Turner, who made 42 second time around, after his first innings score of 64.

“I’m pleased for Karl,” said Newell.

“He’s just battling to establish himself and earn himself a contract for next year and he’s had two good knocks in this match. We’ve liked the look of him since he came to us – it’s a position at the top of the order that we’ve struggled to fill and while there’s still a lot to work on during the winter, hopefully we will get the opportunity to do so.”

Newell commented that his side looked ready for the forthcoming break. “All in all, we’ve looked pretty tired towards the end of the season and it’s a reflection of all the hard work we’ve put in earlier – I’d like to see us show some fight on the final day and it would be nice to see Steven Mullaney put some runs on the board.”

Karl Turner and Darren Bravo recommenced the Nottinghamshire first innings at the start of the day, looking to build upon their stand of 55 from the previous evening.

Sussex squandered an early opportunity of getting rid of the West Indian when Joyce spilt a sharp nick at second slip, off Anyon.

Bravo, capitalising on his good fortune, then launched Monty Panesar for a one-bounce four over long on, followed immediately by an even cleaner blow that sailed over the ropes at long off.

After 45 minutes play Notts lost Turner (64), going back to Anyon and losing his off stump.

The boundary that brought the home side their first batting point also took Bravo on to 49 and he then pushed Arif on to the off-side for a sharply scampered single to move to his first fifty at Trent Bridge (144 balls 5 x 4 1 x 6).

Arif had got through 14 overs without completing a maiden – all of that changed as he then produced a double-wicket maiden to reduce the home side to 206-4.

Firstly, Riki Wessels (17) lost his leg stump to one that nipped back through the gate – then two balls later – Steven Mullaney (0) allowed one to clatter into his off peg.

Bravo had 53 to his name at lunch, with Chris Read on 7 but an inspirational decision at the start of the session soon had Sussex on top.

Joe Gatting, with only one first class wicket to his name – that coming at Cambridge University at the start of 2010 – was given the first over after the interval.

His second ball was speared well down the legside for four byes, but his fifth ball was full and straight and Bravo (53) was given out lbw by umpire Rob Bailey.

Paul Franks (12) became Arif’s third victim, caught behind and the last four wickets fell for just 25 runs.

White (11) and Fletcher (5) both fell to the lively Amjad Khan, whilst Panesar had Read stumped – for a splendid 55 – and Adams (3) bowled.

Following on, 177 behind, Hales (1) was taken by Yardy at slip off Khan – before Turner and Bravo combined for their second decent stand of the game.

In gloomy conditions towards then end of the day Sussex turned to spin from both ends and reaped a rich harvest as Panesar picked up Bravo (17) and Wessels (0) within the space of three deliveries, with Chris Nash ending Turner’s second innings on 42.

When bad light halted play ten overs early, Notts were on 103-4, still 74 adrift, with Mullaney on 16 and Read on 12 – needing a further 16 for 1,000 first class runs for the season.