Nottinghamshire cemented their best start to a championship campaign in a decade, with a convincing victory over Gloucestershire, with a day to spare.
Following-on, the visitors were dismissed for 231 in their second innings, leaving Notts to celebrate victory by an innings and 50 runs.
The win, Nottinghamshire’s fourth in five matches – together with last week’s draw with Glamorgan – equals the start they made to the 2007 campaign, their last in the second tier.
Steven Mullaney was the bowling hero for the home side, taking career best figures of five for 32, with the main resistance coming from Cameron Bancroft and Phil Mustard.
Bancroft scored 53, his highest championship score, and Mustard followed his first innings half century with a knock of 49.
“I’m not really sure what to say because I certainly didn’t expect that to happen when I turned up today. Conditions suited my type of bowling so it was nice to get a few overs under the belt and help the team towards 24 points, which is the main thing.
“Ready (captain Chris Read) said early on for me to get loose," said Mullaney. "He has these feelings every now and again and luckily I repaid him.
"If they keep producing wickets like that here then hopefully I can be in the game more often than not.
“All five bowlers have done their bit in this match but it’s me getting the plaudits today. It’s my first five wicket haul since league cricket in about 2008.
"It was swinging nicely and we kept the ball in great condition and the wicket had a bit in it throughout.”
The morning session began with Gloucestershire on 37 for one in their second innings, still 244 runs behind.
For around an hour things went well for the batting side as Bancroft and Will Tavare developed their second wicket partnership.
Mullaney and Stuart Broad altered the momentum with a spell that reduced Gloucestershire from 98 for one to 104 for five.
Bancroft brought up his half century from 88 balls but was then pinned in front by Mullaney.
Two deliveries later, Graeme van Buuren nibbled at the same bowler and was comfortably taken at first slip by Riki Wessels.
Chris Read’s hunch to bowl his all-rounder had been fully justified with the double-wicket maiden helping him to figures of two for eight from seven tight overs at the lunch interval.
Broad also bagged two wickets in quick succession, ending Tavare’s 105-minute vigil on 20 before bowling George Hankins for nought.
Harry Gurney secured his 250th wicket in first class cricket when Jack Taylor became the third leg before wicket victim in the first session, leaving Phil Mustard and Kieran Noema-Barnett to bat through until lunch on 125 for six.
Noema-Barnett enjoyed himself at the start of the afternoon, hitting 30 from 34 balls, before picking out long leg off Brett Hutton.
Mullaney then returned to the fold to claim the final three wickets.
Mustard was caught at slip, Miles miscued to mid off and the bowler was able to celebrate his maiden five-wicket haul when Matt Taylor was given out lbw.
Nottinghamshire’s maximum-point haul strengthens their lead at the top of the Division Two table and takes them to 104 points from five matches, ahead of next weekend’s home clash against local rivals Derbyshire.
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