Second Eleven Championship
Day 2 of 3
Northants (456-8 dec & 107-4) lead Notts (428-4 dec) by 135 runs
 
Whatever the Northants batsmen could do on a benign pitch Notts proved that they could do as well as they took advantage of a flat wicket to declare just 28 runs behind after tea on the second day of this game.
 
It was Akhil Patel who led the way with a responsible innings of 174 scoring his hundred from 196 balls but then taking complete control hitting 74 at more than a run a ball before his surprise dismissal when a double hundred seemed to be his for the taking. 102 of his runs came from boundaries and he batted for just over five hours
 
He was helped by another controlled innings from Karl Turner. The former Durham batsmen who helped Patel add 241 for the third wicket in 53 overs had reached 98 when, for some inexplicable reason, he went for a second run that was not really on and was run out, a sad end to what had been a good knock that deserved a century.
 
Chris Benham then pressed on and was 45 not out when the declaration was made.
 
Ben Phillips, coming back from a recent injury then showed the younger bowlers his experience by dismissing Keogh, Shafayat and Willey in the space of six balls which added to a wicket from Jake Ball to reduce the home side to 35-4.
 
However they reached the close without further loss with a lead of 135 and an early breakthrough tomorrow morning is essential if Notts are to win this game