Ealham drives Notts on

Mark Ealham © Getty Images

All-rounder Mark Ealham fell just short of a third century this season but put Nottinghamshire in the driving seat against Kent on a rain-interrupted day at Trent Bridge.

The former Kent stalwart hit a typically entertaining 92 against his former county as the hosts finished on 496 all out, their highest total of the season in Liverpool Victoria County Championship Division One.

Kent’s West Indies international Dwayne Bravo collected the last four wickets to finish with 6-112, the eighth five-wicket haul of his career.

Ealham’s innings included eight fours and two sixes from 158 balls before Kent began their reply.

David Fulton reached his sixth championship half-century of the season, with the visitors 115 for two when tea ended play at tea.

Nottinghamshire resumed their first innings this morning on 381 for five with David Hussey looking to extend his overnight score of 156.

But a Simon Cook away-swinger in the fourth over of the day proved his undoing, as Hussey edged to Martin van Jaarsveld at second slip to fall for 164 from 257 balls, with 21 fours and a six.

Ealham and Graeme Swann brought up the 400 and the home side’s final batting point before Swann’s back-foot forcing shot off Bravo was safely held by Darren Stevens at gully.

After a brief stoppage for rain, Ealham and Ryan Sidebottom came out with more attacking intent in the face of a poor weather forecast.

But Sidebottom was soon on his way as he was caught behind by Geraint Jones, while AJ Harris drove straight to Kent skipper Robert Key at short extra cover.

Ealham was last to go, fooled by Bravo’s slower ball into driving to Stevens in the covers.

Notts struck twice with the new ball, Key leg before to Sidebottom, who also sent van Jaarsveld back to the pavilion after an edge to wicket-keeper David Alleyne held at the second attempt.

Fulton and Matthew Walker persevered in increasingly murky conditions, the latter passing 1,000 championship runs for the season before the rain returned.

Play was called off with Fulton unbeaten on 57 and Walker 31 not out.