Half-centuries from Chris Read, Steven Mullaney and Alex Hales lifted Nottinghamshire to 279-5 declared on the first day of their 2-day match against Warwickshire at Windward CC.
Pre-determined to bat for sixty overs, Notts then spent a session in the field during which the Bears posted 96-4 from 30 overs, with wickets for Ben Phillips, Jake Ball, Paul Franks and George Bacon.
Read top-scored for Nottinghamshire with 82 and admitted he’d enjoyed getting amongst the runs.
“I felt I was timing it pretty nicely from the off and it’s always good to spend some time in the middle at this stage of the season. The other two lads also made the most of their opportunities and we’ll look to round the tour off in style on the second day.
The two hour morning session saw Notts reach 108-4 from 27 overs, after the two captains had pre-arranged that they should bat first.
Hales, playing his first match of the tour after a troublesome knee injury, was quickly into his stride, pulling Keith Barker for six in the first over of the day.
The left-arm quick bowler soon struck back, however, by trapping Karl Turner (1) leg before wicket.
Batting at three, Neil Edwards (13) was caught at point by Best off Barker in the eleventh over, with the score on 51-2.
Hales (60) reached his half-century in the 16th over (43 balls 8x4s, 1x6) but only added ten more before edging behind, attempting a drive off Miller.
Michael Lumb (13) was the other wicket to fall before the midday interval, snicking Gordon to Piolet at slip.
Read and Mullaney batted beautifully together upon the resumption, passing a fifty stand in 44 minutes (65 balls 4x4s 3x6s).
Two of those maximums belonged to the Notts skipper, who proceeded to his own fifty (53 balls 4x4s 2x6s).
The hundred partnership took 88 minutes to compile, from 134 balls, with Read launching Best into a nearby field and then pulling Milnes for another mighty larrup.
A well-deserved century seemed likely but on 82 he flashed at the returning Gordon and gave Johnson another catch behind the stumps.
Mullaney became the third half-centurion of the day when he pulled Best away for a four in front of square (88 balls 4x4s 1x6) as Notts reached 250 in the 52nd over.
New partner Paul Franks (27 not out) helped add an unbroken 63 for the 6th wicket as Notts closed on 279-5, with Mullaney undefeated on 76 not out.
When Notts fielded, Read and Hales remained on the side-lines, resting their respective calf and knee niggles, with Wessels ‘keeping wicket and Elstone also on.
Ben Phillips continued his fine tour form with the early breakthrough, inducing Westwood (6) to chip into the hands of Franks at midwicket.
Jake Ball was rewarded for two tight opening overs with the wicket of Evans (25) who edged through to Wessels to leave Warwicks on 46-2.
Ateeq Javid and Richard Johnson eased the total up to 87 with both Franks and Ball bowing economical spells.
The younger man finished with 1-9 from his seven overs and his senior partner then joined him in the wickets column by castling Johnson (19).
With less than three overs to go, there was a nice end to the day for the Notts side to enjoy as George Bacon, in his third over, claimed the wicket of Piolet (0) pulling to deep midwicket where Ball took an assured catch.
Ateeq Javid remained 32 not out at the close, with Warwickshire on 96-4.