Mark Wagh and Matthew Wood became the third and fourth members of the Nottinghamshire top five to record their highest scores of the season, but a decision to grind out runs rather than force the pace may backfire if they are unable to convert a first-innings advantage of 219 into victory.

The fact that Sussex managed a single wicket in the first two sessions was no reflection of a surface assisting spin and Nottinghamshire will aim to capitalise more effectively as they hope to secure the win that will give them a handy cushion ahead of Somerset at the top before their meeting at Trent Bridge next week.

After scoring 100 in 33 overs before lunch, Nottinghamshire then added 99 in 39 overs before tea, although it was easy to see why Sussex are trying to find an overseas fast bowler to provide a cutting edge for the last three games of the season. Paperwork and visa arrangements for their target could not be completed before this one.

Wagh is keeping a diary of the summer to be published in November and his latest entry will be a pleasure to write as he converted a ninth half-century of the season into his first hundred, from 203 balls. Wood was two short of the same landmark when he fell playing across the line to James Kirtley.

Ollie Rayner, impressing with his durability, tried his hand at both ends to finish with 4 for 155 from 50 overs but Will Beer, the 19-year-old wrist-spin bowler, was entrusted with only four overs in the day. Chris Adams, the captain, placed more faith in Mike Yardy who went wicketless before the declaration with six overs remaining.

Meanwhile, Peter Moores, the England head coach, has said that Mushtaq Ahmed may be a late candidate for the job of England spin coach. “It is not beyond the realms that he could be involved,” Moores said. “He has a lot to offer although you can see him coaching the person rather than getting too involved in the technical side.”

An England spokesman said that the ECB is “at an advanced stage” of making an appointment, which it ought to be given that the vacancy arose more than nine months ago when David Parsons moved up to the job of performance director. Moores wants somebody in place before the tour to India in November.

Sussex: First Innings 339 (M W Goodwin 79, M H Yardy 64, C D Hopkinson 62; C E Shreck 4 for 82)

Second Innings

M H Yardy not out 2

C D Nash not out 5

Total (no wkt, 6 overs) 7

Bowling: Shreck 3-1-5-0; Pattinson 2-0-2-0; Ferley 1-1-0-0.

Nottinghamshire: First Innings (overnight 259-2)

M A Wagh c Lewry b Kirtley 128

A G Prince c Adams b Rayner 30

M J Wood lbw b Kirtley 98

*C M W Read not out 38

P J Franks c Adams b Rayner 25

M A Ealham b Rayner 0

R S Ferley not out 26

Extras (b 9, lb 5, w 1) 15

Total (7 wkts dec, 160 overs) 558

D J Pattinson and C E Shreck did not bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-157, 2-223, 3-288, 4-461, 5-482, 6-516, 7-516.

Bowling: Lewry 20-4-76-1; Kirtley 27-4-88-2; Rayner 50-7-155-4; Martin-Jenkins 19-4-54-0; Beer 11-0-63-0; Nash 6-0-24-0; Yardy 27-3-84-0.

Umpires: B Dudleston and G Sharp.