91Èȱ¬

Sussex opener Chris Nash hit a match-saving 162 against title-chasing Nottinghamshire as the visitors batted out the day at Trent Bridge.

Resuming on 146-0, Nash and Ed Joyce added a further 70 before their opening partnership came to an end.

After Joyce went for 98, Nash was then second out with the score on 316, having hit 22 fours and one six.

But Luke Wells (59) and Murray Goodwin (31) also hung around to good effect to help see out the game on 381-5.

Sussex had spent the best part of two days in the field watching Notts compile a massive first innings total of 520-4 declared and were still 203 behind at the start of the day's play. But Nash's second hundred of the season spearheaded the Sussex reaguard action.

Notts' 11-point haul (they picked up an extra bonus point to Warwickshire, who totalled only 10 points from their home draw with Surrey) puts them back on top of the table, by virtue of not yet having lost a match.

But the Bears have a game in hand, starting on Wednesday against Middlesex at Uxbridge.

Notts, who still have to play Warwickshire home and away in their final three matches, are next in action next Wednesday, with a trip to Taunton to face Somerset.

91Èȱ¬ Radio Nottingham's Dave Bracegirdle:

"No-one seems to be casting doubts over the quality of Trent Bridge pitches after a run-fest over the last three days of this contest.

"The difficult summer has made it hard for groundstaff everywhere, but this surface offered precious little to any of the bowlers.

"Riki Wessels, a keeper by trade, was then tossed the ball in an act of desperation and picked up his first wicket in county cricket. Luke Wells was the man muttering all the way back to Hove after shovelling back a return catch.

"The result, coupled with the draw at Edgbaston, still means that the two forthcoming matches between Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire, will be mouthwatering affairs."