In hot, sticky conditions under cloudy skies Nottinghamshire ended the second day of their first class fixture in Abu Dhabi 410 runs behind MCC, who had advanced to 300-5 in their second innings.
The morning session began with Notts batting on from their overnight 86-8 but they soon lost Luke Fletcher for 4 and last man Jake Ball for 6. Paul Franks remained undefeated on 30 not out as the innings ended on 108, a deficit of 110.
Luke Fletcher and Paul Franks again shared the new ball and troubled both MCC openers before Fletcher sent back Chris Rogers, trapping him lbw for 18.
A century stand between Stephen Peters and Stephen Moore swung the advantage even more firmly towards the hosts for this fixture but the pair were parted when Jake Ball picked up his maiden first class wicket, firing one into the pads of Moore and seeing umpire John Steele confirm the decision.
Settling in to a steady spell Ball then took the next two wickets to fall. Peters slashed straight into the hands of Samit Patel at backward point and Dawid Malan, unable to follow his first innings exploits, was caught behind without scoring.
Another century partnership, this time between Steve Davies and Rahul Dravid put Notts on the back foot but they remained highly motivated and well-focused all day. A brief and rare interlude occurred when the players had to momentarily stop play and shield their eyes from a sand storm.
Davies had reached 64 when he fell to the new ball, edging behind off Fletcher but Dravid remained, unbeaten on 81 at the close.
Jake Ball revealed his excitement at picking up his maiden first class wickets. “It’s tremendous to have got three, with some big names amongst them. It would have been nice to get Dravid as well but perhaps tomorrow I can go on and make it a five-for.”
The 20 year old seamer revealed that one or two of his colleagues though perhaps his first victim had been unlucky. “ One or two of the lads thought it may have been outside the line but I was quite happy to accept the umpires decision.”
There was some disappointment for the MCC side when it was announced that Somerset’s Steve Kirby, who picked up five wickets on the opening day, would be returning to the UK and would play no further part in the match having sustained a calf injury on the first day.
Dave Bracegirdle will provide ball-by-ball commentary on Nottinghamshire's County Champions match against MCC on behalf of BBC Radio Nottingham.