Notts bowlers set up winning chance against Sussex

Nottinghamshire will be confident of going clear at the top of the Division One table by closing out a win over Sussex over the remainder of the match

Rothesay County Championship Division One, Trent Bridge (day two)

Sussex 169 & 195-7: Haines 64; O'Neill 3-60

Nottinghamshire 300: Hameed 85, Patterson-White 42; Robinson 4-94, Seales 4-107

Sussex (3 pts) lead Nottinghamshire (5 pts) by 64 runs with three wickets remaining.

Match scorecard

Sussex will need a supreme effort to avoid a three-day defeat as Division One leaders Nottinghamshire look to complete a second win in four matches in a strong start to the County Championship season.

Last season's Division Two champions came into this match level on points with the Trent Bridge side but at 195-7 in their second innings ended a day of fluctuating fortunes with a lead of just 64.

Nottinghamshire led by 131 on first innings, having slipped from 164-3 overnight to 210-8 before Liam Patterson-White (42) and Josh Tongue (39 not out) helped them recover to 300 all out, after skipper Haseeb Hameed's fine 85 earlier.

Ollie Robinson and Jayden Seales led the Sussex bowling with four wickets each, with England's Robinson the pick of the two.

Sussex reached 89-0 in their second innings before a collapse saw them lose five wickets for 36 runs.

Tom Haines made 64 but, until skipper John Simpson (35 not out) put up late resistance, it was a batting effort from the south coast side to match their disappointing showing in the first innings.

Australian Fergus O'Neill, whose four-match stint with Nottinghamshire ends with this match, has 3-60.

At 125-5, Sussex were in big trouble. They suffered more blows as Tongue had James Coles leg before and Liam Patterson-White bowled Fynn Hudson-Prentice but will at least require Nottinghamshire to bat again.

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Nottinghamshire assistant head coach Paul Franks:

"It is a pitch where good bowlers thrive on it and partnerships have been at a premium. The runs we were able to add at the end of the innings could be really valuable and I think 300 was a good score.

"On the whole we are happy with where we are in the game but by no means taking anything for granted. I think we gained control again after they had made a good start in the second innings.

"But it is important that we get these last wickets quickly, to win that crucial first hour especially, because if they build up a lead they have got bowlers in Robinson and Seales who can cause some damage.

"Brett (Hutton) is suffering from a cramp and neural thing at the moment. We don't think it is anything serious but it has reared its head a couple of times, so it is something we need to be a little bit aware of. Josh Tongue felt a bit of discomfort too after getting hit on the shoulder batting."

Sussex pace bowler Ollie Robinson:

"The way we bowled this morning got us back into the game a little bit. The partnership they put together for the ninth wicket was not ideal but to get them out for 300 after they were 167 for three was a good effort and if we can add another 80 to 100 tomorrow it will make for a tricky chase.

"You have to bat positively on this pitch because there can always be a ball with your name on it but if you bowl straight and bowl well it is very hard to score.

"I've had a winter which has allowed me to get a bit stronger and fitter which has allowed me to bowl longer spells.

"Obviously, I'd love to play international cricket again and I hope that by bowling these longer spells I can prove I can still do that. I'd just like to put my name back in the hat, really."