County Championship: Alex Hales hits 189 for Nottinghamshire

Alex Hales has now scored three Championship centuries this season

Alex Hales gave his England Test hopes a boost with a magnificent 189 as Notts dominated against Warwickshire.

Hales, who passed 1,000 first-class runs this season, hit two sixes and 28 fours in his 216-ball innings.

He put on 257 in 53.2 overs with Steven Mullaney (112) as the hosts achieved maximum batting points on day one.

The visitors hit back in the final session at Trent Bridge, with four wickets, but Samit Patel (20 not out) helped Notts to 404-5 by the close.

After being invited to bat by Warwickshire captain William Porterfield, the home side began watchfully and lost Brendan Taylor, who was caught behind by Tim Ambrose for 22.

It brought Hales and Mullaney together and the pair then dominated the day's proceedings with some attacking batting, including 201 runs in the afternoon session.

Steven Mullaney scored the seventh first-class ton of his career

Their second-wicket partnership, which came a rate of 4.81 an over, was finally ended when Mullaney, who made his first century of the season, was caught at slip by Jeetan Patel off Keith Barker.

Hales, who hit his career-best score of 236 against Yorkshire earlier in the season, was dropped by Ian Westwood to a tough one-handed chance at point on 12 and went on to spent a minute short of five hours at the crease before being bowled by Chris Wright.

James Taylor (29) attempted to hook Boyd Rankin (2-69) but misjudged and Ambrose took a good catch high above his head, while Wessels (15) was caught by Porterfield at slip for a first wicket of the day for Riki Clarke four overs from the close.