An unbeaten half century from Samit Patel and 67 from Cheteshwar Pujara helped put Nottinghamshire into a strong position on the second day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Bristol.
Patel reached the close on 78 not out as the visitors ended on 221 for three, a deficit of 82 on the home side.
Pujara scored his runs from 150 deliveries, having hit eight boundaries, as he shared in a third wicket partnership of 146 with Patel.
Earlier in the day Notts removed the final three Gloucestershire wickets inside the first 70 minutes of the day, leaving their hosts on 303 all out.
Pujara’s disappointment at getting out late in the day was tangible, “I didn’t want to get out,” he said. “Not on this wicket where I was really comfortable.
"At times it was difficult to score runs but if you apply yourself out there they can’t get you out.
"It’s a tough wicket for the bowlers but there is some turn in it, so I think if we can get a lead we can put them under pressure.”
The 29-year old appeared anxious to get on with things when he first arrived in the middle but he explained the importance of taking whatever runs you can.
“I think it’s a wicket where you need to rotate the strike,” he explained.
“Boundaries are difficult to come by but once you settle in and get used to the pace then maybe you can play your shots but initially my aim was to rotate the strike and that’s why I as very keen on running.”
The Indian Test match batsman said that he’d really enjoyed batting with his team-mate Patel. “He was timing the ball really well, he started off beautifully whilst I was having difficulty timing it but I enjoyed batting with him and we needed a partnership.”
Asked how Notts can press for a victory over the second half of the contest, he said. “We don’t have to do anything extra, just keep batting the same way and if we have enough runs on the board and get to 400 it will be tough for them on day four.”
Gareth Roderick was unbeaten on 88 at the start of the day, with his side resuming on 256 for seven.
Steady progress was made during the first half an hour of play but things swung decisively towards Notts in the 104th over of the innings, bowled by Luke Wood.
The fourth delivery nipped back sharply to squeeze through Roderick’s defences to bowl him for 96, a disappointing end to the batsman’s first knock after illness.
Barely had the celebrations died down before they were reignited as an identical delivery castled David Payne first ball, giving the 21-year old swing bowler his 50th first class victim.
Last man Chris Liddle avoided the hat-trick and helped Craig Miles take the home county up to the moment where the final ball of the 110th over was pushed for a single to bring up the 300 and a third batting point, Notts having already secured maximum bowling points for the seventh consecutive match this season.
Patel’s slow left-arm closed out the innings, pinning Miles lbw for 47, leaving Chris Liddle unbeaten on two.
Either side of lunch Steven Mullaney and Jake Libby added a trouble-free 72 for the first wicket.
Neither batsman was unduly troubled as Gloucestershire’s seam bowlers struggled with their line. The eventual introduction of spin reaped reward when Mullaney hit Graeme van Buuren to Payne at mid-on for 38.
In the following over Libby feathered Miles behind for 30 but it was the last success of the session as Pujara and Patel embarked upon their lengthy stand.
Patel was first to his half century, reaching the landmark from 120 balls with five fours – but he then appeared to have a reprieve.
On 52 it looked as if he grazed a delivery from Kieran Noema-Barnett, which ‘keeper Roderick, standing up, couldn’t hold.
Pujara’s 50 came from 132 deliveries, with seven boundaries but he was dismissed around 10 minutes before the close of play.
Gloucestershire opted not to take the second new ball when it became due.
Jack Taylor, who had been bowling with seven men on the leg side, bowled the first ball of the 81st over and leapt for joy as a crestfallen Pujara drilled a drive straight to Noema-Barnett at extra cover.
Luke Fletcher wandered out as nightwatchman and he helped Patel reach the close without any further alarms.
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