Wagh puts Notts on top

Mark Wagh hit a century as Nottinghamshire set Lancashire a big target of 393 to win

Nottinghamshire need nine wickets on the final day to claim their fourth LV= County Championship Division One win of the season after Mark Wagh hit his second hundred of the campaign.

The former Warwickshire and England A batsman made 131 from 177 balls, striking three sixes and 11 fours before Notts declared their second innings on 289 for seven, with David Hussey making a quickfire 74.

Wagh was then involved in the field at the start of Lancashire’s innings, running out Paul Horton as the visitors closed on 22 for one, needing another 371 to win.

Earlier, Lancashire were bowled out in their first innings for 285, with veteran all-rounder Mark Ealham picking up 5-31.

The visitors resumed on 237 for six with Notts looking to press home their advantage and claim a substantial first-innings lead.

England seamer Ryan Sidebottom had gone wicketless the previous day but got on the board when Luke Sutton edged a forward defensive to wicketkeeper Chris Read.

And Lancashire skipper Glen Chapple then played on to the left-armer, bowling around the wicket, although not before reaching an entertaining 50 off 67 balls.

Ealham then came on to mop up the tail with Oliver Newby caught behind and Gary Keedy offering a simple return catch.

That gave Notts a lead of 103, but they only managed to add 11 before Will Jefferson was bowled through the gate by Newby.

Wagh increased the run-rate after lunch with boundaries in three successive overs from Newby, including a pulled six over midwicket, although he did see partner Bilal Shafayat perish trying to blast Keedy to leg.

Samit Patel’s poor run of form continued as he was trapped leg before on the back foot to Kyle Hogg, but Australian Hussey seized the initiative in typical fashion, thumping 10 fours and a six in a fourth-wicket stand of 141 from 24 overs, with Wagh hitting Keedy for two maximums of his own.

Hussey cracked one enormous straight six before being bowled attempting a late cut to a Chapple in-swinger, and the innings lost much of its momentum from there.

Ali Brown was caught behind, Wagh drove to mid-on and Ealham gave Sutton another catch off Keedy before the declaration finally arrived.

Needing to negotiate six overs until the close as they began chasing 393 to win, Horton was run out off the third ball by Wagh from square leg after partner Karl Brown sent him back.

Brown and nightwatchman Hogg survived to the close but the visitors may need the forecasted thunderstorms to survive the final day.