Robin Martin-Jenkins scored his third hundred of the season to leave Sussex in a dominant position over Notts at Trent Bridge.

All-rounder Martin-Jenkins was undefeated on 121 when Sussex declared on 497-6 in an effort to bowl out Notts twice in two days and keep the pressure on Championship leaders Surrey.

Martin-Jenkins struck 19 fours and two sixes in his innings of 128 balls with well-timed lofted drives and cuts.

At the close Notts were 289-7 as the batting of Kevin Pietersen frustrated the Sussex attack.

Sussex resumed on 355-4 and were clearly in a hurry to earn the maximum batting points.

Martin-Jenkins swiftly moved on from his overnight score of 35 to bring up his 50 with four consecutive boundaries off the second over of the day, bowled by Charlie Shreck.

And his batting partner Michael Yardy, who had seemed ill at ease at the crease on Saturday, also tried to take the initiative with two fine cover drives as Sussex charged towards 400.

Yardy, playing only his second Championship match of the season, moved doggedly to 47 before a thin edge off Harris was caught by wicketkeeper Chris Read.

The tall Martin-Jenkins continued to attack the Notts bowling, coming down the wicket to disrupt their rhythm and bringing up his century with a square cut for four off Paul Franks.

Franks gained a measure of revenge when he removed wicketkeeper Matthew Prior later in the same over as he looped a gentle catch to Gareth Clough at cover for 17.

Sussex had Notts in trouble at 46-3 in their reply with the experienced Notts opener Darren Bicknell first to fall for 15 as he edged a swinging delivery from James Kirtley to be caught behind by Prior in the third over.

Kirtley was finding extravagant movement in the air and removed the Notts captain Gallian, shouldering arms to be bowled for eight by a ball that held its line and removed off stump.

After lunch Guy Welton was caught at third slip by Michael Yardy for 12, pushing at another fine delivery from Kirtley.

Russell Warren and Kevin Pietersen pushed the score on to 127 before Martin-Jenkins was brought into the attack and sparked a middle order collapse.

Using his height well, Martin-Jenkins found extra bounce which led to Warren mistiming a drive to Tony Cottey at cover for 42.

And at the end of his next over Martin-Jenkins bagged the wicket of New Zealand's Chris Cairns, caught behind by Prior for one.

Mushtaq Ahmed took his first wicket of the match when Read was caught at silly point by Richard Montgomerie for a duck as Sussex claimed three wickets in four overs before tea.

Sussex were then forced on the defensive for the first time in the match as Kevin Pietersen and Paul Franks put on a century stand in 22 overs.

Franks eventually fell to an inspired bowling change from Adams, who recalled Paul Hutchison from the Pavilion End and saw Franks loop an easy catch to Yardy at square leg for 43.

At the other end however Pietersen was in charge as he struck the bowlers to all parts of the ground and was undefeated on 138 at the close.