There was frustration for Nottinghamshire on day three of the LV= Insurance County Championship clash with Essex at Trent Bridge, as continuous heavy rain meant not a single ball could be bowled.
Heavy rain began to blanket not just Nottingham, but much of the country, early on Saturday, and following confirmation of a delayed start, Saturday’s play was finally called off shortly after 3pm.
The visiting county champions are currently 129-3 in their second innings, still 95 in arrears, after the Green and Golds posted 323 all out on the second day, a total which included 117 from skipper Steven Mullaney.
Mullaney’s 16th First-Class ton ensured Notts took a 224-run first-innings lead, after Essex had folded from 80-4 to 99 all out on the first afternoon, thanks in no small part to a career-best 6-24 from Luke Fletcher.
Another impressive individual performance in this encounter has come from Academy graduate Lyndon James, who snared two wickets in five overs on day one, before scoring his second career fifty with the bat.
James also claimed another, notable scalp in Essex’s second innings; Alastair Cook, former England captain, pinned leg before wicket by the homegrown all-rounder for 35 on the second afternoon.
It was a pity that Trent Bridge was not bathed in the same sunlight that illuminated much of the second day, but Notts will hope for a considerably more clement Sunday.
Overs lost cannot be carried over into day four, so the Green and Golds will have a maximum of 96 overs tomorrow during which to vie for victory.
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