PATEL FOUR AND LEANING CENTURY LEAVE GAME WIDE OPEN

Nottinghamshire have a slender advantage going into the final day of their LV= County Championship match against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge.

The home county were 74 for three at stumps, an overall advantage of 61.

Jack Leaning led the Yorkshire charge on the third day, reaching his maiden first class century as the visitors posted 441 in their first innings.

Samit Patel was the pick of the Notts bowlers, claiming figures of four for 102, with Harry Gurney taking three for 90.

Patel admitted his side could have done without the loss of late wickets.

“I think the game is in the balance,” he said. “It was unfortunate to lose those three wickets but that can happen in April conditions, but we’re 60 or so ahead already and as their bowlers showed towards the end there, there’s a bit of life left in the wicket, it’s playing a few tricks.”

For the second match running Patel had to whirl away for more than 30 overs to get his reward and now has picked up 13 wickets already, from this season’s three first class matches.

“I’m pretty surprised at the number of overs I’ve bowled already this season but very happy with the way it’s coming out. I’ve worked hard on my bowling through the winter and adjusted a few things and now am starting to feel like a spin bowler.

“I only took 20-odd wickets last season, so to have 13 already is very pleasing”

Nottinghamshire began the day with Steven Mullaney opening the bowling, but it was just a token over from the all-rounder to implement an end change with Harry Gurney having bowled from the Pavilion End towards the end of the second evening.

The switch paid dividends because Gurney made an early breakthrough from the Radcliffe Road End of the ground, having Andrew Gale smartly taken at first slip by Riki Wessels.

Yorkshire’s captain, who has often delivered huge scores against Notts in the past, had failed to add to his overnight 13.

Leaning, his partner at the start of the day, looked to bat positively against all of the home attack and reached a well-deserved half century from 85 balls, with 6 fours.

He received admiral support from Rich Pyrah, who delivered a third batting point for Yorkshire by running Will Gidman through the slips for four.

At the end of the 110^th over the scoreboard read 320 for four, meaning both sides collected 6 bonus points from the fixture.

At the start of the afternoon session, the visitors’ game plan seemed to have shifted as both batsman danced down the track to Patel. Leaning lifted the spinner over the top for 6 and Pyrah was almost as effective with a one-bounce 4.

The positivity was lost almost immediately as Vernon Philander gathered his first two wickets at Trent Bridge, in quick succession. Pyrah departed for 37 after a miscued pull swirled high into the sky before being pouched by Mullaney.

New batsman Andrew Hodd only made 6 before chopping the South African on.

Leaning’s hundred duly arrived, coming from 156 balls, with 11 fours and a six, with Tim Bresnan sharing in a stand of 69.

Both players then fell to Patel, Bresnan caught at slip by Riki Wessels and Leaning smartly stumped by Notts skipper Chris Read for 116.

Jack Brooks and Steven Patterson nudged Yorkshire into a slender advantage before Patel wrapped things up removing debutant Matthew Fisher.

Harry Gurney left the field early with a slight groin strain and will be assessed during the next 48 hours.

Steven Mullaney and Brendan Taylor wiped out the slender deficit but were soon on their way back to the pavilion.

Fisher trapped Mullaney lbw for 20 and Taylor had his off pole uprooted by Brooks for 32.

In between those two dismissals Alex Hales, who only made 2, nicked a sharply lifting delivery from Bresnan through to the ‘keeper.

James Taylor and Will Gidman saw the home side through to the close and will be hoping to extend their partnership deep into the fourth day.

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.