Notts allrounder Samit Patel denied Mal Loye a century as Lancashire reached 237-6 in reply in sun drenched conditions at Trent Bridge.
Loye, who had taken Lancs from 31-2 to 158-5 in partnerships with Brown, Laxman, Chilton and Croft, was clean bowled after moving down the pitch to take on Patel.
Resuming on 369-9, Ryan Sidebottom was bowled by Oliver Newby to end Nottinghamshire’s resistance all out for 388 with Charlie Shreck unbeaten on 12.
Under the watchful eye of England Selector Geoff Miller, Sidebottom bowled well without reward as Mark Ealham returned 3-26 from his 16 overs. Ealham trapped Karl Brown lbw, had Laxman caught by Bilal Shafayat at point and launched a successful lbw appeal at the expense of Mark Chilton.
“It’s always a bit easier when you can take wickets on a regular basis which we managed to do today and we’re happy with where we are at this stage of the match,” said Notts Director of Cricket Mick Newell.
“Laxman and Loye produced a good stand and Chapple and Sutton took the initiative away from us a little bit towards the end of the day but if we can get a lead of 100 then we’d be hopeful of making something happen in the next two days.
“Pitches have been good at Trent Bridge this year and it’s sometimes difficult for the bowlers who have to work hard and stick with it.
“Mark Ealham looked the most threat bowling although he’s the slowest of the four but I was happy with all of them. It looks like it’s going to go to four days and we’ll have to dig in to get 20 wickets.”