Notts began their Rothesay County Championship meeting with Essex as early leaders of Division One following last week’s opening round of the campaign, but immediately faced trouble, falling to 4-2 early on after being asked to bat at Trent Bridge.
But Kyle Verreynne, who flew in from South Africa only three days before, would finish with a superbly cussed, unbeaten 111 and Lyndon James made 45, as the home side fought back in the afternoon sun from 78-5 to 167-6.
Vigorous batting either side of tea from overseas import Fergus O’Neill, with 42 from 60 balls, plus staunch support from Farhan Ahmed, then helped Notts to a final 328-8.
In his five career innings for Nottinghamshire, Verreynne has now made 359 runs for only once out but was dropped on 33 off Sam Cook.
From nine overs apiece by lunch, Jamie Porter had posted two for 12 and new-ball partner Cook two for 17 during a morning in which Essex were on top, having opted to put the home side in to bat first.
The notion was vindicated when for the first 50 minutes, with Porter having both Slater LBW for one and Haseeb Hameed caught behind for 0.
Joe Clarke came to the crease next, and soonafter launched Porter for a straight six, before unfortunately falling LBW to Cook in the following over.
Freddie McCann looked comfortable in the middle as he helped conjure a part-recovery for Notts, before being caught and bowled by Cook for 26.
Haynes and McCann seemed as though they may be the driving force behind a Notts comeback after a difficult morning, and after Jack Haynes fell for 23, edged by Shane Snater, Notts were at 78-5 before surviving four more maidens to the interval.
The hosts found their stride on the resumption after lunch, with the sixth-wicket pairing of Verreynne and James being particularly harsh on 20-year old Noah Thain in just his sixth full Championship game.
Verreynne rode his luck with narrow escapes on 33 and 7 soon after lunch, including a leading edge off Porter falling between two offside fielders. Unfazed, the gritty ‘keeper reached his determined fifty from 116 balls 15 minutes before tea, not long after James had fallen to Shane Snater on 45.
O’Neill also survived a chance on 31 to second slip, off Thain, straight after tea as 76 were added in 14 overs either side of the interval before being caught LBW to Matt Critchley. Brett Hutton was unable to make his mark on the game, pushing forward and edging Snater behind for one run.
17-year old Farhan Ahmed showed maturity and resilience on a now placid pitch, helping Verreynne reach his hundred in 196 balls. The unbeaten 79-run stand will resume with Ahmed on 30 for day two.