Nottinghamshire’s bowlers ensured the good work of the batsmen didn’t go to waste as they reduced Sussex to 290 for six by the close of the second day of their LV= County Championship match.

Notts batted on for the first hour of the day, before being eventually dismissed for 356 in their first innings, with Ajmal Shahzad making 56.

On the ground where he registered 88 for Yorkshire in 2009, his highest first class score, Shahzad reflected on his first fifty for his new county.

"Although I leaked a few runs at the start of my spell, it was great to take some vital wickets.” Ajmal Shahzad

“It was good to do it for the team – I’m just delighted to make a contribution and to get the runs for the lads.”

Shahzad then claimed three wickets in the Sussex first innings. “I felt in really good rhythm with the ball. I’ve done well here in the past and was still feeling good after my half century. It was a bonus to be given the chance to bowl downhill and, although I leaked a few runs at the start of my spell, it was great to take some vital wickets.”

Notts started the day continuing from their overnight position of 321 for eight and managed to achieve their major goal of bringing up a fourth batting point, thanks to Shahzad.

The 27-year old, beginning the day on 35 not out, manipulated the strike superbly and kept the board ticking over in adding 13 with Luke Fletcher and then 25 with Harry Gurney.

Shahzad’s role on the first day had been to support Samit Patel during his fine innings but a change of emphasis saw him push on towards his own individual milestone as well as securing the team’s objective.

Fletcher (8) became Chris Jordan’s sixth victim of the innings, courtesy of an edge flying into the hands of Michael Yardy at second slip.

The 110th over began with Notts on 347-9 but helped by a two – and then a clip to midwicket for four – Shahzad reached his half century (139 balls, 5x4).

Harry Gurney defended stoically to reach 4 not out but it was Shahzad (56) who eventually went, nicking James Anyon to give ‘keeper Ben Brown his fourth catch of the innings.

Sussex’s reply began with a Fletcher no-ball being driven for three by Chris Nash but his partner, Luke Wells, almost perished in the same over – Steven Mullaney at third slip unable to reach a low snick.

Relatively untroubled, the home side reached lunch on 57 without loss. Wells was perhaps fortunate that another edge, this time off Shahzad, didn’t quite carry to Alex Hales at first slip but the breakthrough wasn’t long in coming.

After an opening stand of 72, Nash (22) inside-edged the ball back onto his stumps to give Shahzad a deserved opening wicket.

Fletcher had struggled in his first spell from the Cromwell Road End but a switch seemed to suit him as he then bowled four consecutive maidens from the Sea End as Notts tried to ramp up the pressure and reduce the run-rate.

Wells fifty arrived (103 balls, 7x4) but he then tossed his wicket away unexpectedly. On 57 he lofted Patel to mid off where Fletcher took a sharp head-high catch to initiate celebrations amongst the visiting players and a large contingent of supporters who’d travelled south.

Michael Yardy and Ed Joyce added 58 together but they had the rub of the green as inside-edges missed the stumps and a succession of lbw appeals were turned down before Shahzad struck again to send Yardy’s (46) off stump cartwheeling out of the ground.

Rory Hamilton-Brown (10) came and went within the space of two overs, taken off Shahzad by a stunning slip catch from Hales.

Notts ended the day with a flourish, claiming two further successes. Luke Wright (14) was caught behind off Samit Patel – giving the skipper his 750th dismissal for the county. Ed Joyce (59) soon followed, spooning Gurney’s first delivery of a new spell up into the off side for James Taylor to take a routine catch.

By the close Sussex were still 66 runs adrift, with the second new ball due after just one over in the morning.