HOVE

(third day of four; Sussex won toss)

Lunch

Nottinghamshire 359-3 (MA Wagh 85 not out, MJ Wood 35 not out, 105 overs) Sussex 339

Nottinghamshire, scoring 100 runs in the session, moved into a lead with seven first-innings wickets in hand as the Sussex spin attack failed to make the inroads they needed on a surface offering increasing term. The only wicket arrived when Chris Adams held a smart catch at slip after Ollie Rayner generated an edge from Ashwell Prince.

Adams delayed taking the second new ball until shortly after noon but, when he did, Jason Lewry and James Kirtley could not inflict further damage. Wagh, reprieved by silly mid off on 45, proceeded to his fifty from 119 balls and Matthew Wood played himself in with due care before widening his range.

Tea

Nottinghamshire 458-3 (MA Wagh 127 not out, MJ Wood 89 not out, 144 overs) Sussex 339

Nottinghamshire ground out rather than blasted runs with 99 runs in 39 overs through the session. Sussex, however, failed to claim a single wicket as the lack of pace in the pitch became increasingly frustrating; the one chance came with Wagh on 107 when a better throw by Murray Goodwin may have secured a run out.

Wagh converted his ninth fifty into a first hundred of the season, from 203 balls with eight fours and two sixes, while Matthew Wood began to accelerate after bringing up his own half-century from 96 balls. When Chris Adams eventually gave Will Beer a chance today at 3.15pm it was greeted with sarcastic cheers from the crowd.

Close

Sussex 339 and 7-0 (CD Nash 5 not out, MH Yardy 2 not out, 6 overs), Nottinghamshire 558

Chris Read delayed the Nottinghamshire declaration until six overs from the close with his side 219 ahead on first innings. Yet there had been little urgency about the batting until Paul Franks and Rob Ferley began to clout the ball in the closing stages against a tired attack.

Mark Wagh fell early in the session for 128 from 269 balls with a mistimed drive against James Kirtley, who then had Matthew Wood (98) lbw playing across the line. Ollie Rayner was rewarded for his persistence with the wickets of Paul Franks to an alert slip catch by Chris Adams, and Mark Ealham in the space of three balls.

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