Paul Hutchison returned season's best figures of 4-65 for Sussex 2nd XI as Nottinghamshire declared only nine ahead on 233-9 in their Championship tussle at Trent Bridge.

Sussex's second innings began badly, Carl Hopkinson and Dominic Clapp being sent back with only nine scored and they closed on 167-6 to be 158 ahead.

Bas Zuiderent, unbeaten on 35, carried Sussex's main hope of extending their lead and he and Chris Nash added 65 for the sixth wicket before Nash (41) fell leg before to Simon Roberts off the last ball of the day.

First innings top scorer Jamie Carpenter began Sussex's fight back by sharing a third wicket stand of 75 with Zuiderent before being bowled by Tom Savill.

Nottinghamshire's innings was built around skipper Wayne Noon, who batted for nearly four hours in making 111 from 193 balls.

The former Northamptonshire wicketkeeper-batsman, resuming on 36 with his side 60-1, had compiled 18 fours when he was trapped leg before by Hopkinson.

Hutchison, whose season has been severely restricted by a shin splint injury, got through 20.3 overs for his four wicket haul and medium-pacer Hopkinson picked up 3-19 in six overs.