Nottinghamshire’s top order enjoyed valuable time at the crease as the new domestic first-class season sprang into life at Fenner’s.
Steven Mullaney celebrated his 100th first-class appearance by making a stylish 89 at the top of the order and Greg Smith scored 73 as the county side were given a healthy workout by an enthusiastic Cambridge MCCU side.
Jake Libby made 22 and Alex Hales hit 35, before lower order contributions of 39 from Chris Read and 36 from Luke Wood helped Notts reach 339 all out.
In the final fifteen minutes of the day the hosts kept their wickets intact to close on eight without loss.
Luke Chapman impressed on his first-class debut, taking six for 78 for the students.
With early season runs on the board, Greg Smith was understandably pleased with how the day had gone.
“It’s time in the middle at this stage, really, more than anything,” he said. “But it was great to get out there and face a lot of balls.
“I’d like to have got a really big score and made a statement but I feel like my game is in good order. I lined it up well and played well for the team today.”
The knock was only the second time that the former Leicestershire man has passed fifty in first-class cricket for Notts and he said he’s keen to push on in the longer format.
“I’m the first to say I’ve under-performed against the red ball for Notts,” he admitted. “I’d like to think I can now build on the performances I put in last year in white ball cricket, when I started to establish myself with some good roles in the T20 and one-day stuff.”
It took a special piece of bowling to deny Smith that big score he was searching for and the batsman was keen to acknowledge that fact.
“Chapman has been outstanding all day. He has kept us honest. The pitch is reasonably soft which means it has spun all day and hat’s off to him. It’s been a good bit of bowling.”
Mullaney began in style at the top of the day, by clipping the opening ball of the new season, from Tim Moses, to the fine leg fence for four.
The opening hour brought 44 runs from 15 overs and the 50-partnership arrived a few moments later.
Spinner Chapman was hit down the ground for four in his first over, a blow which enabled Mullaney to bring up his half century from 90 balls, with nine fours.
Chapman then picked up the first of his haul of wickets by bowling Libby for 22, when the score was on 87. Greg Smith joined Mullaney and the pair advanced the total to 107 for one at lunch.
In idyllic conditions the second wicket stand motored smoothly past 50 before Chapman picked up his second scalp as Mullaney clipped into the hands of short leg, when closing in on a repeat of the century he scored in last season’s match.
Hales, also playing in his 100th first class match, smote his first delivery through the covers and looked an imposing figure as the bowlers came under pressure.
Smith, meanwhile, brought up his half century with a sweep to leg, that ran away for his fourth boundary in 109 deliveries.
Nottinghamshire were well positioned to post a formidable total but the dismissal of Hales – nicking Barton to second slip for 35 – transformed the afternoon as two further wickets fell in quick succession.
Chapman, from the Pavilion End, extracted turn and bounce to find the leading edge of Riki Wessels, who involuntarily presented a loopy catch back to the bowler.
Samit Patel was then gobbled up in the gully, off the same bowler, as Notts slipped from 212 for two to 217 for five.
Tea was taken at 229 for five and 17 more were added before Chapman struck for a fifth time, getting turn to end Smith’s near three-hour vigil by bowling him through the gate.
The right-hander had impressed in his 169-ball knock, hitting seven fours on the way to his highest first class score for Notts.
Read and Luke Wood added 41 for the seventh wicket but the second new ball ended their enjoyment, with Rippington bowling the senior partner for 39.
Stuart Broad joined his fellow left-hander and the pair went after their shots as the day entered its final hour. Wood muscled the first maximum of the day to move to 22 and take the score to 320 for seven.
It became 335 for eight when Wood slapped Chapman to cover and then Rippington improved his figures to three for 51 by castling both Broad, 18, and Harry Gurney, 2.
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