A ninth-wicket stand of 65 between John Morris and Greg Smith late on the second day enabled Notts to recover from another disappointing batting display to reach 280 all out, still 74 runs adrift of Sussex's first innings total of 354 all out.

An opening stand of 42 between Darren Bicknell and Guy Welton should have laid the platform for a sizeable score from the home county but once Welton had edged Mark Robinson to Chris Adams at slip wickets fell at regular intervals.

Greg Blewett ran himself out for 13, Bicknell for 29 and Usman Afzaal for 40 both fell to lbw decisions and Paul Johnson made 25 before falling to a spectacular one—handed catch by Jason Lewry.

After tea Chris Read (18) and Gareth Clough (2) provided Adams with more catching practice, although the fielder had to make good ground to his left to claim Read's mishit sweep.

John Morris batted watchfully in his first game of the season and inched Notts towards the follow—on target, reaching 200 by hitting Mark Davis straight down the ground for the first six of the contest.

A swept four by AJ Harris, from the bowling of Davis, took Notts past the 205 needed to avoid the follow on and he had shared in a vital stand of 22 before falling leg before to James Kirtley.

Some rustic slogging from Greg Smith boosted the total and allowed Morris to ease his way to a well—merited half-century (154 mins 126 balls 3x4s 1x6).

Smith then took centre—stage, three consecutive boundaries off James Kirtley rocketing him into the 30s, and he then clubbed Davis, his team—mate at Northerns, for another explosive boundary.

The stand was worth 65 when Morris unluckily saw the ball loop off bat and pad to give Adams his fourth catch of the day.

Just two balls later Kirtley clean bowled Richard Stemp to wrap up the innings on 280, leaving Smith unbeaten on 44.

Earlier, Notts had sealed the Sussex innings during the first hour of the day, with Harris collecting three of the last four wickets to fall, to finish with figures of 6—98, his best for the county.

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