Nottinghamshire advanced their first innings total to 443 before exerting pressure on the home side on the second day of their LV= county championship fixture against Yorkshire at Scarborough.

In the 12 overs that remained in the day Yorkshire hit the buffers, reaching stumps on 29 for three.

Steven Mullaney, with 79, and Paul Franks, who made 70, took the batting honours for Notts, after Michael Lumb’s first day century had ended with him on 135.

"We are in a really good position and hope we can make them follow-on and put them under real pressure.” Steven Mullaney

Mullaney’s innings really gave his side the opportunity of achieving their targets, as he explained, “We had set ourselves a goal of 450, meaning that they needed to score 300 to avoid the follow-on

The 26-year old scored his runs from just 97 deliveries faced, with 11 fours and two sixes and arrived in the middle with his side needing a contribution.

“I thought you had to be watchful early on but once you were in and the ball got older and the wicket a little flatter it got easier, “he said. “I’m really annoyed I didn’t go on and get a hundred. I feel in really good nick and want to cash in and go bigger than 60, 70 or 80.”

With Franks putting another useful total on the board and Luke Fletcher plundering late runs, Mullaney felt it was a finely-judged attempt to get to the total they eventually posted.

“We back our lower order to get runs. Michael Lumb was outstanding yesterday – the way he judged the wicket yesterday and read the game was outstanding.

“The main point is we are in a really good position and hope we can make them follow-on and put them under real pressure.”

In starkly contrasting conditions to the previous day, the opening session began under clear blue skies, with Notts continuing from their overnight score of 177 for two.

Only eight further runs had been added when James Taylor, on 15, nearly popped one up to short leg, off Adil Rashid, but the dive of Alex Lees still couldn’t get him near enough to take the catch.

Yorkshire elected not to take the second new ball for five overs but struck almost as soon as they did bring it into use.

Notts had already reached their first batting point - and Lumb and Taylor had extended their stand to 109 - before the breakthrough arrived.

Lumb (135) had added 19 runs to his overnight score before nibbling at one from Steven Patterson and Adam Lyth did the rest at second slip.

The first boundary of the day eventually arrived after an hour of play, with Taylor guiding Ryan Sidebottom down to the unprotected third man fence.

Against disciplined bowling, runs were hard to come by, although Patel collected a boundary through square leg, before driving Sidebottom down the ground for four more.

Notts’ ambitions were severely dented though in the period just prior to lunch, as the home side picked up two prize wickets, in consecutive overs.

Patel (17) nicked Moin Ashraf to Lyth and then umpire Lloyds gave Taylor (38) out lbw to Patterson.

Chris Read (14) and Mullaney added 33 together before the Notts captain fell to an excellent catch by ‘keeper Andrew Hodd, after Read had got a thick edge attempting an expansive drive.

Mullaney then gorged himself upon the bowling of Rich Pyrah – hitting five boundaries in just two overs, all between backward point and third man, to speed from 20 to 40.

Pyrah was replaced by Ashraf and the batsman twice punched him to the ropes to bring up a very good fifty (68 balls, 9x4).

Mullaney then turned his attentions to the spin of Rashid, twice lifting him for sixes down the ground – although the first one appeared to land a foot inside the ropes, to the annoyance of some home supporters.

Franks offered good support and then broke into an offensive surge of his own, hitting three consecutive fours off Ashraf. On 22 the left-hander had a life though, as Lyth spilled him at slip, off Rashid.

Mullaney’s (79) fine knock came to an end as he tried to sweep Rashid and offered up a bat/pad catch to Alex Lees under the helmet.

Franks took up the role of senior batsman and brought up his own fifty (98 balls, 4x4, 1x6) in style, by pulling Pyrah over the ropes.

His splendid innings ended in selfless fashion as he smacked Rashid to Ballance at mid off.

Ajmal Shahzad (12) put Lyth over the ropes for another six but found the hands of Sidebottom when he attempted a repeat, leaving Fletcher (25 not out) to plunder some late runs.

Harry Gurney (0) was last out, giving Rashid a return catch for his third wicket.

The cherry on top of the Notts cake came towards the end of the day as Gurney removed Lyth (7) – helped by a Patel catch at slip – before Fletcher removed Lees (2) lbw, and then had nightwatchman Patterson (1) caught behind.