Lyndon James struck a career-best 155 before Nottinghamshire’s seamers burst through Middlesex’s top order on day two of the LV= Insurance County Championship clash at Trent Bridge, the visitors left trailing by 445 with six wickets in hand.
James unfurled his full repertoire of strokes, striking 29 fours and a six in his five hour vigil, but remained composed throughout his maiden century at Trent Bridge.
He was ably supported by fellow Academy graduate Liam Patterson-White, who hit a 72-ball 50 and shared a partnership worth 91 with his former County Age Group captain.
Having fielded for 132.3 overs, the visitors lost Sam Robson, Stephen Eskinazi, and Jack Davies to single figure scores as a rampant Notts seam attack made their rest count.
Mark Stoneman remained dogged with a watchful 67 but was removed late on as Patterson-White found some sharp turn, leaving it up to Max Holden (24*) to resist the Green and Golds’ charge before close.
The sides were forced to wait until after lunch to play following rain, and, upon resumption, Steven Mullaney’s hard work in the evening of day one was undone in the first over when Tim Murtagh’s delivery jagged in off the pitch to uproot the right-hander’s off stump.
Despair soon turned to delight in the Nottinghamshire camp, however, as Lyndon James - who resumed on 90 - cracked the same bowler through the covers to bring up his second First-Class century.
James’ personal landmark brought added impetus for the home side who collected their fifth batting point for reaching 400 when Tom Moores drove handsomely through the off side for four before he, too, was dismissed by Murtagh, caught behind by John Simpson for 17.
His departure paved the way for Liam Patterson-White to join James, and the pair continued to put Middlesex to the sword with a pinch of good fortune for the former who, prior to bringing up the 50 partnership for the seventh wicket, edged wide of first slip, then between first slip and wicketkeeper in consecutive Tom Helm deliveries.
The duo remained watchful throughout the elongated afternoon session, albeit pounced on loose deliveries, exemplified by a delicate scoop and pulled six off Hollman for James to bring up his 150, after a five over spell from Martin Andersson and Helm brought 43 runs for the hosts.
Hollman did get his man, though, with Notts honing in on 500 as James skewed an attempted heave over mid-off. Patterson-White and James Pattinson - who made a 27-ball 35 - saw Notts to 551, before the former was caught at long off, cueing a declaration.
In a lively opening 10 overs, Pattinson got the wicket of Robson, trapped in front for five, before Eskinazi was bowled by Fletcher for four and Davies pinned lbw without scoring by Dane Paterson.
Stoneman and Holden offered stability with a partnership worth 69 before close, the former reaching his half century with an elegant drive through extra cover.
However, Notts roared back just moments before the close as Patterson-White ripped one through the former's defences to send him on his way, leaving it up to Holden and Tom Helm to see the Seaxes through to stumps.