Sussex's Chris Nash has enjoyed a healthy relationship with Trent Bridge over the years and he survived the miserable conditions and a disputed decision to reach 45 not out on a rain-interrupted opening day at Nottinghamshire.
Nash looked in good touch, with five boundaries in his 63-ball stay, as Sussex reached 91 for 1 before the final thunderstorm of the day brought a premature close.
Nash, who hit 162 in the corresponding fixture last summer, was made to wait for his opportunity after heavy rain set in and delayed the start for three hours after the toss had been completed. By that stage Chris Read might have been reviewing his decision to insert the opposition, with the seam-friendly conditions being replaced by strong gusts of wind.
Both Nash and his opening partner, Luke Wells, had scares during their
partnership of 69. Having made 20, Nash, who had also scored a century in a 2009 visit to Nottingham, edged Ajmal Shahzad to third slip, where Steven Mullaney claimed a clean, low catch. As Notts celebrated, the batsman stood his ground and was allowed to remain after umpires Neil Bainton and Peter Hartley had completed their deliberations.
The frustrations of the fielding side intensified in the next over as David
Hussey, at first slip, spilled Luke Wells - on 31 at the time - off the bowling of Andre Adams. Wells only added eight more before again pushing at Adams to present Read with a comfortable opportunity down to his left.
Nottinghamshire were dealt a major blow shortly before the toss when news
filtered through that permission to include Michael Lumb in their starting
line-up had been denied. The home side had intended to begin the match with the left-hander and then replace him after two days when he needed to report for international duty with England.