Olly Stone’s battling innings of 74 not out helped Nottinghamshire wrestle back control of their Vitality County Championship clash against Somerset.
The paceman’s knock was part of a 112-run partnership with Calvin Harrison which saw the home side recover from 190/7 to 326/8 at the close of play.
Earlier in the day, Jack Haynes and Joe Clarke made half-centuries after captain Haseeb Hameed won the toss and elected to bat first in the glorious sunshine.
Hameed showed intent early on, a glorious cover drive for four one of three early boundaries.
However, the opener fell shortly after, bowled by opposite number Craig Overton for 15 to leave the home side 26/1.
Ben Slater and Will Young went about building their second-wicket partnership in a controlled fashion.
A beautifully executed cut shot was the pick of Slater’s boundaries, while New Zealand international Young tucked into the legside fence during his stay at the crease, finding the on-side rope on four occasions, three of which at the expense of Kasey Aldridge.
Having put on 45, it took a sublime catch from Somerset wicketkeeper James Rew to remove Slater for 29 off Migael Pretorius’ bowling at the end of the 21st over.
Then, the first ball of the 22nd over resulted in Aldridge trapping Young lbw for 19 to leave the score 71/3.
Joe Clarke and Jack Haynes, in at four and five, steadied proceedings and guided Nottinghamshire to lunch with 111 on the board.
Haynes helped himself to two boundaries from consecutive Jack Leach deliveries, the first a fine sweep shot, to get his stint at the crease up and running.
The runs continued to flow after the break as the pair found the boundary rope with comfortable regularity on the way to a fourth-wicket 100-run partnership.
Haynes’ fourth half-century of the season was brought up with a delightful clip to the mid-wicket boundary, an innings which also saw him pass 4,000 career runs.
The milestones continued as Clarke reached 8,000 first-class runs before bringing up 50 by guiding Aldridge for four through third man.
His knock came to an end the very next ball however, as the white-ball captain drove on the up straight into the hands of Tom Banton for 51.
The dismissal of Clarke led to a Somerset fightback as the visitors reduced Nottinghamshire to 190/7. Haynes (55 from 73 balls), Tom Moores (1 from 13 balls) and Lyndon James (5 from 15 balls) were all caught behind square close in on the offside, before Harrison and Stone commenced their rearguard.
The pair’s dogged determination was encapsulated by Harrison’s selfless innings of 35 from 134 deliveries, while Stone’s ten boundaries showed the Somerset bowlers the duo would score runs if given the chance.
Stone brought up just his third first-class 50 when he drove Overton to the fence and his unbeaten 74 is his second highest First-Class score, behind the 90 he scored against Lancashire earlier in the season.
Harrison’s vigil finally came to an end when Pretorius found a way through his defences and knocked back his stumps, but thanks to his and Stone’s efforts, Nottinghamshire find themselves back in this game ahead of the second day.
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Notts Outlaws' next home Vitality Blast clash sees them entertain Leicestershire Foxes on Friday 5 July.