Nottinghamshire lost five wickets in the evening session as they eked out a slender lead over Warwickshire at the end of the third day of their Specsavers County Championship match.

The Bears put the home side under pressure after compiling 488 in their first innings, in response to Notts' 498.

Notts had high hopes of being able to force their first win of the campaign but ended the day on 105 with half of their side back in the pavilion. 

Joe Clarke remains unbeaten overnight on 59.

Earlier, Dominic Sibley carried his bat with a chanceless knock of 215 not out.

The 24-year-old Warwickshire opener was at the crease for six and half hours and hit 30 boundaries from the 420 balls he faced.

His unbeaten effort was the first time a Warwickshire opener had carried his bat against Notts since Michael Powell in 1998.

Steven Mullaney, the Notts captain, achieved figures of four for 48.

Resuming from their overnight score of 264 for two, the visitors lost two wickets to the second new ball.

Luke Fletcher, celebrating his 31st birthday, made the breakthrough, having Sam Hain caught at cover by Joey Evison for 76.

Hain had helped Sibley add 160 for the third wicket before being undone by the fourth delivery with the new cherry.

Three overs later, 21-year-old Jack Blatherwick, on debut, picked up his maiden first-class wicket by toppling the off-stump of Matt Lamb.

Liam Banks played positively, making 41 from only 38 balls before nicking Paul Coughlin to Clarke, standing in for Ben Duckett as wicketkeeper.

Duckett remained inside the dressing room throughout the Warwickshire innings, icing a badly-bruised hand in an effort to regain full fitness ahead of Vitality Blast Finals Day commitments at the weekend.

Mullaney, who hasn’t bowled for three months after a knee injury which eventually required surgery, picked up his four wickets on his return to bowling duties.

Michael Burgess, who reached 31 and added 76 with Sibley, was bowled, with Henry Brookes then lofting the home skipper to mid-off for eight.

Jeetan Patel and Oliver Hannon-Dalby both departed for single figure scores, before Ravi Ashwin ended the innings with the wicket of George Garrett.

Sibley was allowed the luxury of having an extended tea interval, having been on the field for the entirety of the match. By the time he appeared, six overs in, Notts were in early trouble.

Mullaney, who made 179 on the first day, nicked Hannon-Dalby to slip for two and then same bowler dismissed Chris Nash lbw.

The lead was only 56 when Ben Compton was given out caught behind off Patel, having completed his first-class debut with scores of 14 and 13.

Duckett’s appearance on the field was sadly short-lived as he shouldered arms to Garrett and lost his off stump.

Hannon-Dalby was brought back for the dying embers of the day and delivered a fifth wicket for his side by bowling 17-year-old Joey Evison.

Clarke, who made 125 in the first innings, reached a second innings 50 from 59 deliveries and will resume on the final morning alongside Paul Coughlin, with a lead of only 115.

*******

Nottinghamshire Membership for the 2020 season is on sale, with those who join for next season currently bestowed exclusive access to applying for international tickets.

Click here to purchase Membership online…