For the second day running only six wickets fell on a day dominated by batsmen at Trent Bridge as Notts closed on 132-1 in their LV= County Championship match against Sussex, who had earlier extended their first innings to 488 all out, with Murray Goodwin making 170.
Andre Adams was the pick of the Nottinghamshire bowlers, returning figures of 5-110 but the second half of the day brought some welcome runs for Karl Turner.
The 23 year old ended on 52 not out, his first half century for the club.
"I really enjoyed it and got stuck in and hope I can carry on in the same way tomorrow.” Karl Turner
“It was good to spend time at the crease,” he said. “I’ve felt in good nick and had decent balance in the previous games but found some unusual ways to get out – I think, perhaps, through nerves. Today it was different- I felt calm and relaxed and was pleased to be able to go on and get some runs.”
Karl joined Notts a couple of months ago and feels it’s taken a little while to adjust to his new environment. “It’s always a little difficult when you go anywhere - trying to earn the respect of a new dressing room – guys who don’t really know you. But today I really enjoyed it and got stuck in and hope I can carry on in the same way tomorrow.”
Continuing from the overnight position of 312-6 Sussex enjoyed a really good first session of the day, which put them in a position of dominance. In bright, clear conditions they added 108 further runs for the loss of just a couple of wickets.
The initial fourteen overs were just about being able to add to the haul of bonus points but it was the visitors who soon sped to their fourth batting point, with Naved Arif hitting Luke Fletcher for three boundaries in succession.
Revenge, of sorts, was gained when Arif (30) nicked the same bowler to Read, after a stand of 49 with Goodwin.
New batsman Amjad Khan had an early scare. Paul Franks, who had replaced Adams at the Pavilion End after an hour of play, had him dropped at slip by Alex Hales from the first ball of his spell.
Thereon, another good partnership developed – this time of 59 – as the home side struggled to create any real opportunities on a good wicket.
Goodwin’s 150 came up from 279 balls (19 x 4) and he seemed intent on making it a double before coming unstuck on 170.
Having almost clipped Graeme White straight to sub fielder Sam Wood at midwicket, he fell in the next over, bowled by Charlie Shreck.
Playing away from his body, Goodwin’s loose drive flew kindly into the hands of Steven Mullaney at gully to leave the score on 413-8.
After a fairly soporific start, the afternoon session was brought into life by Khan, who lifted White into the Hound Road lower for a maximum. Batting in his 100th first class match, the one-cap former England Test bowler progressed to his fifth career half century and first for his new county.
His stand with Anyon (28) passed fifty – the fifth of the innings to do so – before Notts were indebted to a stunning combination from two of their senior pro’s to make the breakthrough.
A full, in-ducker from Adams brushed the inside edge of Anyon’s bat and Read, diving full length to his right, took an outstanding catch.
Left with Monty Panesar as his final partner, Khan proceeded quickly to 65 before being trapped lbw by Adams to close out the innings.
Put in, 488 was an admirable effort by the visitors, with Adams collecting his seventh five-wicket haul of the season, to lift his tally of championship wickets to 67, one short of last season.
With eleven overs to face until tea Alex Hales and Karl Turner put bat to ball and sped to 54-0 at the break. Upon reaching 27, Hales – having passed 1,000 first class runs for the season in the previous match, reached that figure in Division One cricket, to warm applause from an appreciative crowd.
Turner, advancing beyond his highest score at Trent Bridge, allowed Hales to monopolise the strike as the pair took their stand to 77 before it was broken.
Hales, on 49, tried to lift Panesar over mid on for his half century but couldn’t clear Ed Joyce, who took a good catch high above his head.
Darren Bravo joined Turner and the two left-handers began to grind out a solid partnership against tidy bowling. With a first class best of 40 to his name prior to this innings there would be have been understandable relief when Turner went beyond that and reached his maiden half century.
At that point a rogue black cloud brought a sharp thunderstorm sweeping across the ground and play was halted for around twenty minutes.
The restart brought no obvious dramas as the two left-handers saw it through to stumps on 132-1.