10:26am Friday 25th September 2009
By Bruce Talbot
That's it for the day. Light hasn't really improved and the covers are being wheeled onto the pitch. Notts lead by 321 and I imagine they will declare overnight. Thanks for logging on today.
Read 64, Ealham 23, Lead 321. Bad light stopped play.
Patel goes for 37, caught behind cutting a ball from Nash. New batsman Mark Ealham got a guard of honour from the Sussex players as he walked out to play the last innings of his career. Nice gesture. We will probably see another for Lewry tomorrow. Chawla back into the attack at the pavilion end and Read has just driven him past Collymore, whose attempt at fielding the ball was pretty pathetic, for four to go to 46.
Back after tea. Since Brown's dismissal Read and Patel have prospered in a stand of 64 and Patel has grown in confidence after some sticky moments against Chawla. He is 34 and Read 30 and the lead is now 256. Light not great and with Warwickshire finally showing some resistance there is unlikely to be a declaration before the close by Notts, who need 10 points here - ie a draw - to secure runners-up spot. Not bad considering they haven't won a game in any competition since June. RMJ having a post-tea trundle but the body language isn't great in the field and this scenario, where the oppo rally in the middle and lower orders, is not entirely unfamiliar. Chilly outside too.
Now Brown goes for a single, lbw to Smith who angled one into him in a manner similar to the Wagh dismissal earlier. Notts lead by 192.
Hales plays forward to a leg break from Chawla and has his off bail disturbed. 147 balls for his 38, not an innings of great beauty to be honest. Patel took 19 balls to get off the mark and then drove Smith down the ground for 4.
Smith and Lewry since lunch and Dwayne has just got Patel for 54 as he hooked a short ball straight down RMJ's throat at long leg, although I am pleased to report that he didn't actually swallow the ball. His younger brother (Patel's that is) Akhib is in now with Hales who has moved onto 25.
Patel 36, Hales 20 from 103 balls with four fours. Curious innings.
RMJ has switched to the pavilion end and looks a lot happier. Chawla into the attack and has bowled two overs so far, conceding just a single. Patel is 35 and Hales 18 but it's not been the most thrilling session of the season.
Patel pulled Smith for six but it was a rare stroke of aggression as these two settle down. Hales is 11 and Patel 19 and after bowling ten overs Collymore is having a blow and RMJ is about to bowl his second over of the day. Thinking about the second division in the Lincolnshire Poacher last night and the prospect that Sussex could play seven of their eight their away games at outgrounds: Surrey (Guildford, Whitgift), Middx (Uxbridge, Southgate), Leicester (Oakham School), Essex (Colchester, Southend), Derbyshire (Chesterfield), Gloucs (Cheltenham), Glamorgan (Swansea, Colwyn Bay). Relegation doesn't seem so bad does it?
Wagh lbw to Smith trying to work to leg a ball which swung back into his pads. Well, that's what I have been told my fellow hacks. I was getting a cup of tea in the canteen at the time. Would love to be able to report that was the first wicket I've missed this season. But that would be an untruth. Hales 9 and Samit Patel has waddled out to join him. Boy, he's a big unit.
Outstanding from Collymore and Lewry with just 15 runs scored in 11 overs. Hales is 9 and Wagh 2 and the first bowling change now sees Dwayne Smith replace Lewry at the pavilion end.
Collymore gets his second wicket as nightwatchman Fletcher is lbw not offering. Umpire Cook took an age over his deliberations before eventually sending him on his way. So it's Hales and Wagh at the wicket now, neither of whom have scored a run yet.
Good morning everyone and welcome to Trent Bridge for our third day coverage of Notts v Sussex. Well, Sussex are down now as we no so I expect this game to move forward at pace today. Notts will resume at 10.30am on 4-1, a lead of 89, after Corey Collymore removed Bilal Shafayat just before they went off for Knocker White last night.
The squad have just indulged in some energetic warm-ups and if there is any hangover from relegation it didn't appear evident this morning. Let's be honest, Sussex have looked like the team going down since the first day of the Warwickshire game a fortnight ago.
With their fate decided most of the national journos have headed off to Northampton to see if they can get promoted. Infact, I am in splendid isolation in the press box at the moment although, as I write, the man from The Independent has just turned up. So I won't be talking to myself all day.
Anyway, leave any comments and questions below as usual. Here come the umps, they will be underway soon.
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