Steven Mullaney took the batting plaudits for Nottinghamshire on a shortened first day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Yorkshire at Trent Bridge.

The opener scored 78 and Michael Lumb added 49 but Notts let a good start slip away as they fell from 132-2 to 261 all out, having been asked to bat first.

Mullaney made his runs from just 80 deliveries faced, having hit 12 fours and two sixes, in another confident stay at the crease.

Jack Brooks, with 4-74, and Adil Rashid, who weighed in with three wickets, excelled for the defending champions.

Despite the floodlights being on, a gloomy end to the day meant that Yorkshire were prevented from starting their reply.

David Willey, on his Yorkshire debut, bowled the opening over of the match and conceded a single to Mullaney from his first ball and followed it up by spearing down a wide, before Alex Hales got his season up and running with an elegant four backward of point.

Mullaney helped himself to three boundaries in Brooks’ first over as Notts rattled along in the early stages.

Brooks was only given two overs in his initial burst, going for 20 runs but his replacement, Steven Patterson went for nine from his first six deliveries.

Willey looked to test Mullaney with a short-pitched delivery but found himself being deposited several rows back in the Fox Road Stand to bring the fifty up in style.

The first maximum was soon followed by a second as Mullaney greeted Liam Plunkett’s arrival with another pull over the leg side.

Joe Root and skipper Andrew Gale had a lengthy chat prior to Brooks’ return to the attack and it proved to be an inspirational discussion.

Root slotted into a catching position at short extra cover and was immediately in the action as Hales drove Brooks’ first delivery low down to him, before departing for 36.

Mullaney advanced to his 50, made in impressive style from just 52 balls, with six fours and those two maximums but he then saw another batting partner depart.

Greg Smith unluckily dragged Brooks on for nought, the ricochet uprooting his middle stump.

Within sight of the lunch interval Yorkshire struck a decisive blow, ending Mullaney’s fine innings with a juggling catch at first slip by Alex Lees, off Patterson.

The lightest of showers delayed the start of the afternoon play by about five minutes and a period of relatively calm sent in before Yorkshire struck again.

Riki Wessels had made 12, before he edged the first ball of Plunkett’s second spell to Root at second slip.

The leg spin of Rashid picked up two lbw decisions, accounting for Samit Patel, who made 16, and Jackson Bird, who got four.

In between he also bagged the wicket of Jake Ball, who scored 7 before hoisting the spinner to Brooks in the deep.

Brooks couldn’t stay out of the game. He ended Michael Lumb’s impressive stay in the middle, trapping him leg before, then had Chris Read caught behind for 5.

Stuart Broad matched Hales’ contribution of 36 but was then run out by an accurate throw from the deep by Brooks.

 

The excitement of NatWest T20 Blast returns to Trent Bridge on Friday 20 May as Notts Outlaws face Birmingham Bears in the first of seven home matches in the competition.

Supporters can witness every minute of the action with a NatWest T20 Blast Season Ticket, priced at just £84 (adults), £63 (over 65s) or £203 (family 2+2), with Membership available to U16s at £26 and U21s for £36.

Make Trent Bridge a firm fixture for your Friday nights and secure your seats now.