Morris picks up scoring tempo at Hove

Nottinghamshire batted stubbornly in the sunshine at Hove to prevent Sussex from capitalising on their big 404-5 score on the first day. At 240-3 by the close the visitors were 82 runs away from saving the follow-on in this Division Two championship match.

Jason Lewry and James Kirtley found little life in the pitch and the only early wicket was that of Guy Welton caught at slip. Darren Bicknell crept to 2 by lunch, took 56 minutes afterwards to increase, and got finally into double figures after being 26 overs at the crease.

Captain Jason Gallian was run out for 44 but John Morris increased the scoring rate with three boundaries in an over from Will House. He seemed to be set to prosper on a pitch which seemed to be made for batting.

Sussex accepted the challenge by turning to the unorthodox left-arm spin of Michael Bevan who dismissed Bicknell at 163 to a slip-catch by Tony Cottey. Bicknell's 45 had taken 66 overs. Usman Afzaal had an early life as Umer Rashid missed a easy chance. After that the batsmen proceeded easily enough with Morris on 75, just eleven runs short of his highest score of the season.

Earlier Sussex had increased their overnight total by only 68 runs as the last five wickets toppled for 17: Paul Reiffel took three to finish with 4-85.