A century from Steven Mullaney was the highlight of the opening day of Nottinghamshire’s first class friendly against Loughborough MCCU at Trent Bridge.
Mullaney scored 118 from the top of the order but no-one else reached 50 as Notts were bowled out for just 308 in only 79 overs. Robert McKinley returned the stand-out figures of three for 67 for the visitors.
In the last hour of the day the students responded with 36 for one, with Harry Gurney getting the only wicket to fall.
It was the sixth time that Mullaney had reached three figures in first class cricket and the 28-year-old passed three thousand runs for his second county in the process.
Notts won the toss and elected to bat first and Mullaney batted throughout the morning session, reaching 77 not out by lunch. His opening partner had been Brendan Taylor, who was making his county debut.
The Zimbabwean international was presented with his cap by Chris Read, shortly before the start of play. Watchful in the opening overs, he was made to wait until his tenth delivery before getting off the mark with a guided dab down to the third man fence.
After a clip to fine leg and a scampered single his first knock for the county ended on just nine when he played around a delivery from Nottingham-born seamer Bobby Gamble and was given out lbw.
Alex Hales hit seven boundaries in an innings of 46 that was just threatening to hit top gear when he chopped onto his stumps to give Tom Nugent a maiden first class wicket.
That broke a second wicket stand which had been worth 78 and either side of lunch Mullaney and James Taylor went beyond that mark in an enterprising partnership for the third wicket.
Mullaney’s hundred arrived in the 41st over, coming from 130 balls with 18 fours, his first century for the county in red ball cricket since making 125 against Middlesex at Lord’s in September 2013.
The first six of the summer sailed into the New Stand as a slog sweep from Taylor, from the bowling of Gamble, brought up the 100 partnership.
A long and difficult afternoon may have been in prospect for the students at that point but it was averted somewhat by the dismissal of both set batsmen within the space of four deliveries.
Mullaney was bowled by McKinley and at the start of the next over a miscued pull from Taylor, who made 25, lobbed gently on the on-side to give Nugent his second wicket.
Worse was to follow a couple of overs later as a brilliant bit of work from Nitish Kumar at point ran out Riki Wessels with a direct hit. Notts had slumped from 211 for two to 215 for five.
Chris Read made 18 before cutting Kumar to backward point, where Hasan Azad took a sprawling one-handed catch.
Kumar, a 20 year old Canadian international, then sealed a memorable afternoon for himself and his side by making a full-length dive and return to run out Samit Patel, who’d made 31 in typically ebullient fashion.
Loughborough were able to steadily work their way through the lower order early into the final session of the day.
Luke Fletcher made three before tamely chipping to midwicket, Jake Ball fell to a slip catch for nine and Gurney had his leg stump knocked flat before he’d opened his account.
Will Gidman, on his county debut, didn’t get as much support from the tail as he’d have hoped and finished unbeaten on 28.
Loughborough’s openers put on 24 for the first wicket in nine overs but then Gurney entered the attack as first change. His third delivery blasted through Mark Best’s defences and knocked the middle stump flat.
Anish Patel and Hasan Azad remained together until stumps and will continue their second wicket partnership when play resumes on the second morning.
The excitement of the NatWest T20 Blast returns to Trent Bridge in May as Notts Outlaws hope to break the 10,000 barrier for the arrival of reigning champions Birmingham Bears on Friday 15 May.
Adult tickets are available at a special price of £10 and further discounts in place for under 16s (£5), under21s (£7) and senior citizens (£7) when buying in advance. Make Trent Bridge a firm fixture for your Friday nights and secure your seats now.