Fluent centuries from Ali Brown and Chris Read set up a tea time declaration as Nottinghamshire seized the initiative against Durham.
Brown’s innings of 134 from 121 balls included 17 fours and three sixes, one of which landed on the middle tier of the Radcliffe Road stand.
The pair added 237 runs for the seventh wicket, easing Notts from the precarious situation that existed when Samit Patel’s waist-high lbw dismissal reduced Notts to 199-5.
Read finished unbeaten on 124 and Paul Franks struck 11 fours in a useful 64.
“From 12 o'clock onwards we've had a brilliant day and Ali Brown, Chris Read and Paul Franks have made big contributions for us,” said Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell.
"We've followed that up with some good bowling and we're focussed on finishing the job because we want to send a strong message to other teams that we're playing good cricket.
"Ali's style is unique and he is able to strike the ball hard and score quick runs and I hope that he can carry this one."
Brown is on record as saying that he would be keen to extend his stay at Trent Bridge beyond the original term which expires at the end of the season if he made a positive start to the campaign..
"Ali knows that he hasn't got too many years left but in this sort of form he is invaluable to us," said Newell.
"He strikes the ball as well as anyone out there and he is more than capable of maintaining his form."
Durham trail by 254 runs having reached 87-4 in their second innings. Notts will be keen to press on in the morning session and, weather permitting, have every opportunity to continue their unblemished start.