Nottinghamshire’s bowling attack enjoyed further match practice ahead of the start of the 2020 season, as cricket made its long-awaited return to Trent Bridge.

After two days of competitive action at Edgbaston on Friday and Saturday, Steven Mullaney’s men welcomed Leicestershire for their final friendly ahead of the Bob Willis Trophy.

The format of the fixture was agreed upon before play began, with Nottinghamshire fielding for 90 overs on day one before getting their chance with the bat on Wednesday.

Young all-rounder Joey Evison gave the hosts the perfect start, trapping Foxes opener Sam Evans in front without scoring.

Jake Ball added to the early pressure with a tight opening spell, just seven runs coming from his seven overs with the new ball.

However, Hassan Azad and Harry Dearden then cut loose after the new ball, taking their second-wicket stand to 80 by the interval, Leicestershire lunching on 106-1.

Both men had passed fifty before the break but opener Azad could only progress to 63 in the afternoon session, Peter Trego inducing an edge from the left-hander with Tom Moores doing the rest behind the stumps.

Left-armer Tom Barber, who was turning out at Trent Bridge for the first time, then rattled Leicestershire skipper Colin Ackermann with his extra pace and bounce to secure his debut wicket for the green and golds.

Meanwhile, Dearden had been progressing serenely at the other end and looked set for a century, before he pulled a Trego delivery into the grateful hands of Liam Patterson-White at midwicket.

And when Barber dismissed George Rhodes without scoring, pushing one across him to catch the outside edge, the visitors had fallen to 187-5.

However, either side of the tea interval, Harry Swindells and Tom Taylor steadied the ship for the visitors, sharing in a 62-run stand before retiring on 46 not out and 31 not out respectively.

Callum Parkinson (20*) and Dieter Klein (20*) both enjoyed quick cameos at the crease before making way for Aaron Lilley to hit three fours and one six in a quickfire 27.

There was just enough time for Liam Patterson-White to claim his first scalp of the summer, Ben Mike caught behind by Tom Moores for eight, Leicestershire finishing the day on 334-6.

Tomorrow the roles are reversed as Nottinghamshire’s batsmen get their chance out in the middle, with play resuming from 11am.