A fiery burst from James Pattinson set the tone for another day of dominance from Nottinghamshire as they bundled Kent out inside two sessions of their Specsavers County Championship match at Trent Bridge.
The unbeaten Division Two leaders maintained their proud record of securing maximum bowling points in every match this season by dismissing the visitors for just 180 in 54 overs.
Pattinson did the early damage, before finishing with three for 30, whilst Steven Mullaney, who enjoyed a fine all-round performance, worked his way through the lower order in claiming three for two from just three overs.
The only real defiance from Kent came from opener Daniel Bell-Drummond, who carried his bat for an undefeated 84, having hit 10 fours from the 169 deliveries he faced.
In the final session of the day, played under floodlights, Kent's bowlers were held at bay by an unbroken partnership of 83 between Mullaney and Alex Hales as Notts closed on 135 for three, only 45 behind.
For the first time this season an opposing captain opted to toss the coin in Nottingham and Kent’s Sam Northeast chose to bat once he’d won it.
Just 5.2 overs later, the wisdom of that decision might have been questioned as Pattinson picked up his third wicket within the space of eight deliveries to leave the visitors on six for three.
The Australian speedster blasted a gaping hole through the Kent top order by removing Sean Dickson and Joe Denly to lbw decisions and then had Sam Northeast taken at second slip. All three batsmen departed without getting off the mark.
Sam Billings, fresh from England duty on Sunday, played a phrenetic knock of 30 from 32 balls before losing his middle stump after playing a loose drive at Luke Fletcher.
Darren Stevens was equally culpable, throwing his hands at the same bowler and nicking behind to Chris Read for 10.
Bell-Drummond reached his fifty in the first over of the second session, getting there from 99 balls with eight fours.
Will Gidman, who left Trent Bridge for Canterbury at the end of last season, twice survived streaky nicks into the slip cordon before being castled by Harry Gurney, who uprooted his former team-mates’ middle stump for 25.
Mullaney needed just three deliveries to add his name to the list of wicket-takers, having Adam Rose caught at slip for 22.
The same bowler then nipped out Matt Coles and New Zealand’s Adam Milne – for a golden duck on debut – leaving Jake Ball to bring the innings to a close with the scalp of Mitch Claydon.
Nottinghamshire’s openers survived for almost 14 overs, in the twilight period, before Stevens struck for the 39th time this season, having Jake Libby caught at slip for 16.
Samit Patel’s fabulous streak of high scores came to an end when he was bowled for just four by Coles.
Milne picked up his maiden wicket in county cricket by having Brendan Taylor caught behind.
Mullaney appeared to be struggling with some ailment and had several visits from the Notts physio on his way to making 50 from 91 balls and reached stumps on 63 not out, with Hales unbeaten on 28.
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