Nottinghamshire made a positive start with the bat on the third day of their Specsavers County Championship match against Surrey at The Kia Oval.
Responding to a huge Surrey total, the visitors had reached 77 for one by the time that bad light ended play 20 overs early. Ben Slater is unbeaten on 29 and Ben Compton is on 16 not out.
Earlier, Surrey declared their first innings closed on 402 for six, as soon as the fifth batting point had been reached. Scott Borthwick’s marathon effort had been brought to an end on 137 and Ollie Pope had fallen for 106. At the time of the declaration Rikki Clarke was undefeated on 36 and Jordan Clark was on 23 not out.
Paul Coughlin, who took both wickets that had fallen on the first day, finished with figures of two for 83. Steven Mullaney took two for 73.
Play didn’t start until 1.10pm after another wet morning in the capital. Resuming from 248 for two, the home county should have lost a wicket in the fourth over of the day.
Borthwick, having added one run to his unbeaten 109, sliced Mullaney firmly to Matt Carter, standing in a fourth slip position, but the offering went down.
Notts took the second new ball as soon as it became due and Pope nicked Jack Blatherwick down to third man to reach his hundred.
The right-hander, named in England’s Test squad for the winter tour to New Zealand, moved on to 106 but then lifted Jake Ball into the hands of Ben Compton at deep midwicket, ending a partnership of 222.
Nottinghamshire’s first bonus point was immediately followed by Surrey’s third as the 300 was brought up.
Ben Foakes didn’t last too long in the middle, having his stumps splayed after inside-edging Blatherwick for 8.
Mullaney returned for his second bowl of the day and made two key breakthroughs before tea. Will Jacks looked very adjacent as he was given out lbw and then Borthwick’s lengthy vigil came to an end as he edged an attempted cut behind.
Clarke looked to pick up the tempo on his arrival at the crease but had a stroke of fortune when slashing at Coughlin, with Carter unable to grasp his second chance of the day as the ball flashed past him above head-height.
Clarke launched Coughlin and Mullaney away for sixes, leaving his batting partner, Clark, to cut Liam Patterson-White for the four that brought up the fifth batting point, the 50-partnership and the declaration.
When Notts batted Mullaney pulled Morne Morkel over the leg-side ropes for six but was then dismissed lbw for 21 by Clarke.
Slater and Compton will head into the final day of the season having put on 38 together, so far.
*******
Nottinghamshire Membership for the 2020 season is on sale, with those who join for next season currently bestowed exclusive access to applying for international tickets.