Prolonged afternoon rain ensured that Nottinghamshire’s Specsavers County Championship match against Yorkshire will go into a fourth day at Scarborough.
The visitors had reached 61-3, in pursuit of a nominal victory target of 452, before the conditions deteriorated substantially during the middle of the afternoon.
Tom Moores had made the most of his time at the crease, rattling along to score an attractive 41 not out on his county debut but his side face an uphill battle after losing two wickets to Tim Bresnan, shortly before play was abandoned.
Earlier, Yorkshire declared their second innings on 263-4, with Gary Ballance contributing an unbeaten 101 and Bresnan chipped in with 35 not out.
Nottinghamshire’s chances of avoiding defeat may well hinge in some further assistance from the weather on the last day.
"Tom played really well at a time when we needed people to play well," said Peter Moores.
“There were some good balls going around and I thought him and Jake Libby played really nicely and I think Jake got a really good ball off Tim Bresnan. Rain has come and that has given us a bit of a life-line, so hopefully we can come back tomorrow and play well.
“Tom had to be patient for the first hour or so of his innings, when he didn’t get much at all but then he managed to get away. It’s that sort of pitch. They bowled well, you’ve got to wait but after a while he got the pace of it and managed to get a few away. He’ll go back to the hotel tonight and know he’s got a big role to play tomorrow.”
Moores said that it is going to take victories to give Notts any chance of avoiding the drop but knows the chances of a win in this game has gone.
“We know we have got to win games but this is about saving this game and getting the valuable points for a draw and then taking that to Durham next week, to try and win that game," he added.
"It’s a tough situation for us to be in but everybody has got to be up for the fight and everybody has got to be up for the scrap.
“Everybody knows what is at stake but this was always going to be a tough game, Yorkshire away, the county champions. We’re still in this contest but we’ve got to work really hard tomorrow.”
Overnight rain and a damp outfield delayed the start by 40 minutes but when play began Yorkshire made rapid progress.
Ballance and Tim Bresnan wasted little time in extending the lead beyond 400 and then the big shots began to follow.
Samit Patel was launched high over the ropes at long on at the start of the 73rd over by Bresnan. Rotating the strike brought Ballance onto the strike and his 14th four and a single took the left-hander to a 163-ball century.
Another Bresnan boundary brought about the declaration, leaving Notts with 79 overs and a full day in which to try and secure a result.
The first five overs were bowled before lunch, with Yorkshire picking up the wicket of Steven Mullaney during that time. An edge, from the bowling of Jack Brooks, was taken at third slip by Jack Leaning.
Jake Libby, who had been dismissed first ball in the first innings, survived for 40 minutes before the introduction of Bresnan removed him.
From the Trafalgar Square end of the ground Bresnan sent down a double-wicket maiden, having Libby caught at fourth slip by Jake Lehmann, for nine and Michael Lumb followed five balls later, adjudged to have feathered behind to complete a pair.
Tom Moores played a selection of sparkling shots, finding the boundary eight times in his 41 before the rains came.
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