Nottinghamshire’s second team impressed with the ball during the first day of their final friendly against Essex in Southend, Ben Kitt ending the innings with an excellent 6-38. 

After winning the toss and putting the hosts in, Brett Hutton had Essex captain Nick Brown caught by Hassan Azad inside six overs. Kitt, Luke Wood and captain Paul Franks took one apiece to leave Essex rocking on 36-4. 

After guiding the score to 75-4 by lunch, Callum Taylor and Saf Imtiaz shared a fifth wicket stand of 80 before Kitt struck again to remove the latter. He then sent four of the five remaining batsmen back to the pavilion, before a second for Hutton wrapped up the innings on 142. Kitt finished with exceptional figures of 6-38, Hutton contributing an economical 2-17 off 10.4 overs.

Nottinghamshire had 19 overs to face before tea, losing Sam Kelsall in the 3rd over, lbw to Junaid Nadir. Sam Wood joined Hassan Azad and at the tea interval the visitors were 38-1.

In the final session wickets continued to fall, Notts losing Azad,  Sam Wood, Adam Tillcock and Anuj Dal by the 37th over, the score standing at 66-5. Matt Cross and captain Paul Franks played out the remaining 14 overs and at the close Nottinghamshire were 94-5 off 51 overs. Nadir returned figures of 3-13 off 13 overs.