A career best score from Samit Patel was the highlight as Nottinghamshire moved into a strong position on the third day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Bristol.
Patel ended with an unbeaten score of 257 as Notts reached 535 for eight before declaring with a lead of 232.
In the 10 overs that remained in the day Luke Fletcher picked up a wicket as Gloucestershire closed on 30 for one.
Patel scored his runs from 452 balls, with 23 fours and a six, making the 14th highest score ever recorded by a Nottinghamshire batsman and beating the 256 not out he scored against Durham MCCU in 2013.
Tired but very happy, the 32-year old spoke afterwards, “I’m delighted. It reminds you of the bad days that you have with the bat and the times that you can’t score and you are searching for runs.
"Days like this are when you have to make the most of it.”
He explained that Notts had exceeded all of their plans for the third day. “We set out to get a 100 lead and then the game moved quicker than we expected and we got ourselves into an even better position than we thought.
“We were able to reassess at tea and thought the longer we batted the harder it is for them to survive. I didn’t change tempo, either yesterday or today, and whoever came in with me I was going at the same tempo.
"I’ve been training pretty hard and my mindset has been pretty good for weeks now but I’ve not been converting as I should really.
"I’ve been searching for a big one, so hopefully this will keep me in good stead for Tuesday’s cup match.”
Patel admitted that his only moment of concern was after he’d equalled his career best and was looking for a single to move to 257.
“That was when I was at my most nervous,” he said. “But all the boys were chuffed for me. I’m looking forward to a bowl tomorrow now and hopefully we can get over the line and win the game.”
Patel was undefeated on 78 at the start of the day, with Notts resuming on 221 for three. The home side took the new ball immediately and gained early success with a wicket in the fourth over of the morning.
Luke Fletcher, who had come to the crease as nightwatchman, had faced a total of 20 deliveries without getting off the mark but then nicked a decent ball from Craig Miles to Chris Dent at second slip.
A square drive for four off Miles brought Patel his 25th first class hundred, and second at Bristol, having consumed 224 balls.
Patel’s excited leap of celebration was understandable and had additional meaning as it also brought up a second batting point for reaching 250.
Michael Lumb helped add 54 for the fifth wicket but on 23 he was pinned in his crease by a Chris Liddle yorker.
Riki Wessels made 18, either side of lunch, before the returning Jack Taylor – who removed Cheteshwar Pujara on the second evening – gained another leg before wicket success.
Patel moved to 150, made from 312 balls with 14 fours, seconds before another significant milestone was reached.
Chris Read, who began his career with Gloucestershire, reached 16,000 first class runs as he advanced to 13.
The Nottinghamshire captain pushed his side into an even stronger position by increasing the overall tempo with a knock of 40 in just 61 balls.
His effort included a launched six down the ground off Noema-Barnett, who eventually gained some retribution by ending Read’s stay with one that clipped the off stump.
Patel moved past his previous championship best, 176 made on the same ground 10 years ago and then went from 185 to 189 with a lofted blow down the ground that narrowly evaded Miles. .
Patel then hit consecutive fours off Noema-Barnett to bring up his double from 379 balls.
Brett Hutton was caught behind off Liddle for 11 from the fourth ball of the final session but Patel continued onwards, well-supported by a delightful cameo of 38 from 52 balls from Luke Wood.
All the focus was on Patel as he drew within sight of his major landmark, and a crescendo of noise from the Nottinghamshire balcony and the many county supporters that had travelled to see him, accompanied the batsman as he jogged off as Read declared as he completed his 257th and final run.
Fletcher ended the day in style for Notts by trapping Cameron Bancroft lbw to the second ball of the innings, leaving Gloucestershire with an uphill task on the final day.