Brendan Taylor’s first century of the season helped Nottinghamshire into a strong position on the opening day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Durham at Trent Bridge.

The former Zimbabwe skipper scored 114 as Notts reached stumps on 353 for six, with Samit Patel adding 84 and sharing in a fifth wicket stand of 168 with Taylor.

After making 71 against Hants on Wednesday, Taylor looked back to his best as he reached his fifth hundred for the county from 145 balls, with 17 fours.

The Nottinghamshire starting line-up showed three changes from the side that finished the match against Hampshire. Jake Ball, who had played on the first two days at The Ageas Bowl, returned to the starting eleven, replacing the rested Luke Fletcher. Australian Jackson Bird came back into the side, for his countryman, Dan Christian, whilst the recalled Greg Smith filled the gap left by the injury to Chris Read.

In Read’s absence, Steven Mullaney took over the captaincy of the side and Riki Wessels assumed the mantle of wicketkeeper.

Mullaney, who had only previously captained the Nottinghamshire first team for a one-dayer against Sri Lanka in 2011, had a life in only the second over.

The tenth ball of the day, bowled by Graham Onions, kissed the outside edge but was grassed at second slip by Scott Borthwick.

Failing to make the most of his reprieve, the stand-in skipper then fell for just two, pulling Chris Rushworth to midwicket, where James Weighell magnificently plucked the speeding ball out of the sky.

Jake Libby stroked two boundaries in his 19 but then fatally decided to leave alone a Rushworth delivery and lost his off pole.

Without addition to the score, Notts were then reduced to 27 for three as Greg Smith edged Onions to Paul Collingwood at first slip.

Taylor got away to a positive start as an errant first spell from 20-year old Brydon Carse allowed him to pick up five boundaries through the off side.

Taylor and Michael Lumb helped nudge Notts back towards parity but Durham’s other change bowler, Weighell, ended the stand just before lunch. Lumb, on 22, nicked the seamer to first slip, where Paul Collingwood grasped the opportunity.

Nottinghamshire’s decision to bat first began to look increasingly justified as Taylor and Patel began to take control, matching each other with the excellence of their strokeplay.

Patel’s recent form has brought scores of over 50 in six of Nottinghamshire’s first class matches this season and he achieved the landmark again, pulling Collingwood to get there from 84 balls, with seven fours. The shot also took him to the career mark of 10,000 first class runs.

Taylor’s own 50 had come from 93 balls, with nine of them being caressed to the fence and before tea he had advanced to his 27th first class hundred.

Durham used eight bowlers in an attempt to halt the home momentum but they were rocked with Carse having to leave the field after bowling just seven overs.

The eventual breakthrough came in the final session, Taylor lifting Weighell to deep midwicket and then Patel was bowled by Borthwick.

Riki Wessels and Brett Hutton ensured that Nottinghamshire would finish the last session strongly, with an unbroken stand of 62 and four batting points to carry into the second day.

Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast Fixtures & Ticket Information

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