MULLANEY AND PATEL LEAD NOTTS TO FIRST INNINGS LEAD

Surrey endured a long day in the field as Nottinghamshire closed on the second day of their LV= County Championship match on 360-6, leading by 162.

Opening batsman Steven Mullaney scored an excellent 104 and an unbeaten 87 from Samit Patel accounted for the bulk of the scoring despite the Surrey bowlers working hard in the sun with Chris Tremlett taking 3-71.

Nottinghamshire began the day on their overnight 50-0 and Mullaney and Riki Wessels began the morning in solid fashion. Mullaney looked particularly impressive employing the sweep against the spin of Gareth Batty and together they moved the visitors through the first hour of play without any alarms.

The partnership moved past 100 as Mullaney brought up a hugely composed fifty from 100 deliveries as Surrey tried various combinations of pace and spin. Tremlett was introduced from the Pavilion End and with his first delivery he made the breakthrough when he trapped Wessels LBW for 47 to leave Nottinghamshire 105-1.

Michael Lumb came to the middle and got off the mark in handsome fashion when he drove Tremlett to the cover boundary. Mullaney continued to play sensibly, looking solid in defence but also being positive as he used his feet to Gary Keedy and put him into the OCS stand for six.

Together Lumb and Mullaney guided Nottinghamshire to lunch with the scoreboard reading 152-1 but in the second over after the break Lumb departed for 22 when he was LBW to Tremlett. Mullaney continued to play solidly but the Surrey bowlers kept proceedings very tight and runs were at a premium for a period.

James Taylor had joined Mullaney but he was tempted by Keedy to come down the pitch and was stumped by Steven Davies on 5 to leave Nottinghamshire 168-3. Mullaney moved through the 80’s and into the 90’s as he was joined by Samit Patel.

Mullaney then brought up a deserved century when he drove Zander de Bruyn beautifully to the cover point boundary. His hundred had arrived from 186 deliveries and thanks to his efforts Nottinghamshire moved into the lead and registered their first batting point.

Mullaney had moved onto 104 when he looked to sweep Zafar Ansari and Rory Burns took a good catch off the top edge as Nottinghamshire found themselves 207-4. David Hussey immediately looked busy at the crease and Patel settled and the runs began to flow as Hussey pulled Ansari into the OCS Stand for six.

Together they took Nottinghamshire through to tea with Hussey 22* and Patel unbeaten on 33. After the break Hussey struck another maximum into the OCS Stand off Keedy but on 37 he presented the left arm spinner with a return catch to leave Nottinghamshire 265-5.

Patel continued to play well and moved to a very good fifty with a handsome drive through the covers from his 105^th delivery. He had been joined by Chris Read who after a watchful start found the boundary on a couple of occasions as Nottinghamshire moved past 300.

Surrey took the new ball and Tremlett picked up his third wicket of the day when he bowled Read for a punchy 31. Ajmal Shahzad came to the middle and played very sensibly helping Patel take the score past 350 and in the process securing a fourth batting point.

The Nottinghamshire pair took their side through to stumps with a lead of 162 and Patel unbeaten on 87. A tough day for Surrey in the field but they stuck to their task and they know they will have to put in another big effort with the ball in the morning and then perform with the bat on the third day at the Kia Oval.