Brendan Taylor entered the Nottinghamshire record books for the second time in a week, with a century on the opening day of the new LV= County Championship season.
The former Zimbabwe international scored 106 as Notts reached 298 for nine on the first day of their match against Middlesex at Lord’s.
Taylor faced 188 balls, hit 14 fours and becomes the first player in the county’s history to score hundreds in his initial two first-class matches for the county.
He eventually fell to the bowling of James Harris, who altered the complexion of the day with four wickets in quick succession to emerge with figures of four for 75.
Chris Read was still there at stumps, on 62 not out, having won the toss and elected to bat at the start of the day.
For Taylor, it was a dream come true to score a century at Lord’s.
“It’s very pleasing and very rewarding to get a hundred here,” he said. “It’s only the first day and there’s a lot of cricket left in this match, so hopefully we can complement what we’ve achieved so far with a big bowling performance tomorrow.”
The 29-year old admitted it was tough at the start. “That was a difficult opening hour. Murtagh and Finn are two of the best red ball bowlers around, but it got a little easier after then and a few things started to click into place for me.
“Chris Read steered the ship nicely towards the end and I just hope we can get that third batting point in the morning and then have a big day with the ball.”
Luke Fletcher and Greg Smith were the two players omitted from the Nottinghamshire squad of 13 but both, along with the rest of the players, took to the field to observe a minute of silence in respect of the lives of Richie Benaud and Phillip Hughes.
Steven Mullaney had slices of fortune on both 12 and 18 as Dawid Malan and Adam Voges put down waist-high chances at slip off Tom Helm, on as fourth seamer.
The opening stand passed 50 in the 18th over and moved on to 70 before Middlesex were able to get themselves back into the game with two quick wickets.
Helm’s perseverance was rewarded as Mullaney played on to his stumps for 22 and then Alex Hales perished without getting off the mark.
He pushed Helm into the covers and set off quickly. Brendan Taylor sent him back, seeing that the ball had gone straight to Tim Murtagh, but the fielder’s aim was true and Hales’ despairing dive was unable to save him.
Brendan Taylor reached his 50 soon after lunch, reaching the milestone from 105 balls, with 7 fours and celebrating by lifting Murtagh back over his head for another boundary,
With James Taylor playing a high-quality innings at the other end, the Middlesex bowlers were put to the sword as the pair advanced their stand into 3 figures.
On 93, Brendan Taylor faced Harris from the Nursery End. A cover-driven four was followed by a similar shot allowing the pair to scamper the 3 that were needed.
His century came from 160 balls, with 14 fours. Harris, though, bounced back in sensational style, taking four important wickets, at the cost of only one run, in the space of only 11 deliveries.
He tempted James Taylor to miscue to Nick Gubbins for 36 and then trapped Samit Patel, Riki Wessels and Brendan Taylor, all lbw.
Patel made a 3-ball duck, Wessels scored a single and then Brendan Taylor’s long vigil ended after a very long deliberation from umpire Nick Cook.
A first batting point was secured shortly before Will Gidman became Helm’s second victim, caught behind for 9.
Vernon Philander got off the mark by hitting his first ball for 4 but perished just before the second new ball was taken, stumped by John Simpson off Adam Voges, for 17.
Jake Ball made 16 and helped Chris Read secure a second batting point before lifting a delivery from Steven Finn up and over the slip cordon but straight into the waiting hands of Paul Stirling at third man.
Read found willing support in Harry Gurney and was able to bring up his own 50 from 80 balls, with 7 boundaries, as the last wicket pair put on an unbroken 34.
A pulled 6 from the captain, off Helm, followed by a boundary took the total to within 2 runs of a third point, but the umpires decided that the light had deteriorated and ended play, with Read on 62 not out and Gurney on 8.
The excitement of the NatWest T20 Blast returns to Trent Bridge in May as Notts Outlaws hope to break the 10,000 barrier for the arrival of reigning champions Birmingham Bears on Friday 15 May.
Adult tickets are available at a special price of £10 and further discounts in place for under 16s (£5), under21s (£7) and senior citizens (£7) when buying in advance. Make Trent Bridge a firm fixture for your Friday nights and secure your seats now.