County Championship: Chris Read fifty puts Notts on top

Chris Read has made 22 first-class centuries at an average of 36.97

Captain Chris Read starred with the bat as Nottinghamshire set Worcestershire 324 to win at Trent Bridge.

After James Taylor (56) and Riki Wessels (55) extended their stand to 105 to take Notts to 174-3, Read hit 73 off 122 balls to increase the lead.

Jack Shantry claimed an impressive 5-48 from 35.4 overs, but contributions from the middle order helped Notts to 366.

Worcestershire then survived the final four overs to end the day on 13-0 but still need 311 for victory.

Wessels and Taylor both brought up their half-centuries for Notts in the morning session, before Wessels edged Shantry to slip.

Taylor, using Alex Hales as a runner after pulling a hamstring, was run out by Joe Clarke before Saeed Ajmal trapped Samit Patel lbw for 31 to leave the hosts 234-6.

However Read took the attack to the bowlers, bringing up his half-century from 82 balls, before he and Ben Hutton (34) were dismissed by Shantry in consecutive overs.

Despite struggling to dismiss the last-wicket pair of Luke Fletcher and Andy Carter, Shantry bowled Fletcher to claim the 10th five-wicket haul of his career.

With Notts' injured duo, Carter and Fletcher, unlikely to be able to bowl many overs on the final day, Worcestershire will still feel they are in with a chance of winning. But the visitors are expected to be a man short following the head injury that forced Alex Gidman to retire hurt on the first day.

Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read:

"The pitch dictated that the tempo of the game was a little bit slow and clearly our aim was to bat as long as possible. We would have liked 30 or 40 more, but I am reasonably happy.

"The way Riki and James batted in the first hour of the day was fantastic. It was disappointing to lose them both before lunch.

"That set us back a bit in the middle session, but every player made a telling contribution and was prepared to graft and dig in and make sure that lead was as big as possible."

Worcestershire bowler Jack Shantry:

"I am pretty tired, but that's what we are paid to do, as the coach reminds us. It's a hell of a job being a cricketer so I'm not going to moan about it too much.

"Chris Read played very well. We are finding out that players in Division One are made of sterner stuff.

"It has been a bit tougher for all of us this season, but we have given ourselves a good chance on a good pitch."