Nottinghamshire top order set strong reply
Opener Karl Turner posted his maiden County Championship half-century as Nottinghamshire made a steady start in reply to Sussex's imposing first innings total at Trent Bridge
13-Sep-2011
Opener Karl Turner posted his maiden County Championship half-century as Nottinghamshire made a steady start in reply to Sussex's imposing first innings total at Trent Bridge.
Starting the second day on 312 for 6, Sussex added a further 176 before they were finally dismissed for 488, Murray Goodwin advancing to 170 and Amjad Khan making 65 as the visiting side's tail wagged to great effect. Nottinghamshire seamer Andre Adams finished with 5 for 110, his seventh fifth-wicket haul of the season.
In reply England Twenty20 opener Alex Hales hit a rapid 49 to pass 1,000 Championship runs for the first time in his career, while Turner finished the day on 52 not out, with Notts closing on 132 for one, 356 behind.
As on day one, the match had a distinct end-of-season feel to it. Neither side are in the title hunt or at threat of relegation. Goodwin continued to accumulate steadily in the morning session while Naved Arif went on the attack, pulling Luke Fletcher for three fours in four balls before he was caught behind off the seamer for 30.
Hales dropped a sitter at first slip off Khan when the former England seamer had made just five and the 30-year-old went on to post the fifth half-century of his career as the home attack toiled. Goodwin was eventually caught at gully off Charlie Shreck shortly before lunch - driving at a ball that bounced a fraction - having batted for more than seven hours, facing 329 balls and hitting 21 fours.
Khan and James Anyon then put on 62 for the ninth wicket before Adams returned to wrap up the innings, Anyon being caught behind for 28 and Khan lbw playing across his pads.
With nothing resting on the game, Hales and Turner were able to bat with some freedom in the early stages, although it was the right-handed Hales who once again looked the classier batsman with impressive drives through the off-side.
A single to mid-off took the 22-year-old to 1,000 Championship runs - the first top-order batsman to reach that milestone for Notts since Mark Wagh in 2008 - but having reached tea on 54-0, Hales then threw his wicket away on 49 attempting to hit Monty Panesar over the top, only to find Ed Joyce at mid-on.
Left-handers Turner and Darren Bravo found the going tough against the England spinner, but a drive through midwicket did see Turner reach 50 - and the 23-year-old will hope to add to his score on day three as he pursues a contract for next season.
