Shafayat puts Sussex to sword

Bilal Shafayat struck his second championship century of the season and shared in an opening stand of 157 with Will Jefferson (80) as second-placed Nottinghamshire bossed the second day of their LV County Championship clash against defending champions Sussex.

Shafayat's 118 from 198 balls helped his side to 259 for two at the close - only 80 behind Sussex's first-innings score of 339 at Hove.

There were 16 fours and a six in Shafayat's fluent 100 before his vigil was eventually ended by left-arm swing bowler Jason Lewry who bowled him as he attempted to work the ball off his legs.

Sussex went wicketless between lunch and tea after adding only 47 to their overnight score for the loss of their last five wickets.

Shafayat and Jefferson got the Nottinghamshire reply off to an ideal start, and Jefferson had compiled eight fours and three sixes in making his highest score of the season in three hours when off-spinner Ollie Rayner had him caught behind down the leg-side.

Bilal Shafayat moved into the nineties in confident fashion

Mark Wagh enjoyed an early let-off on 16, being dropped off Rayner by Lewry running back from mid-off, and he was unbeaten on 31 at the close with his side in a strong position.

Earlier in the Nottinghamshire reply, Jefferson, dropped on seven at slip off Lewry, twice smacked Rayner for sixes on the way to completing his half-century from 78 balls.

The giant opener hoisted Rayner over wide long-on before clearing the midwicket fence with another impressive blow.

Sussex recalled Lewry to the attack after Rayner conceded 15 in two overs and Shafayat moved to his 50 in exactly 100 balls by driving the left-armer for his eighth boundary.

Shafayat later moved into the nineties in confident fashion by lofting Rayner to the midwicket fence for four, and he completed his century by cracking leg-spinner Will Beer for six over the long off rope.

Fast bowler Charlie Shreck earlier produced a burst of 4-8 in the space of 27 balls as Sussex, resuming on 292 for five, were bowled out in 91 minutes.

Shreck's return of 4-82 in 25 overs extended his wickets tally for the season to 51, and he struck first by bowling Carl Hopkinson (62) with his first delivery of the day in the 10th over.

Hopkinson's overnight partner Robin Martin-Jenkins (35) later skied Shreck to mid-off before teenager Beer was pinned in front for a second-ball duck.

James Kirtley also fell for no score being bowled by Shreck playing defensively, and Sussex were 11 runs short of securing a fourth batting bonus point when left-arm spinner Rob Ferley claimed his first wicket of the innings by having last man Lewry caught behind.