After being held up by steady drizzle, and by the stubbornness of debutant Lloyd Paternott, Nottinghamshire’s bowlers dismissed Oxford MCCU for 102 on the second day of their match at The Parks.
Paternott batted for almost four hours to reach a battling half century on debut before being last out, as Luke Fletcher joined Harry Gurney, Steven Mullaney and Ajmal Shahzad in collecting two wickets apiece.
With a first innings lead of 135 Notts batted again and reached 34-2 by the close.
“It has been a useful work-out for our bowlers,” said Mick Newell, Notts director of cricket. “Being out there and being tested for a couple of sessions has certainly challenged them, as we’d hoped.
“We again had the opportunity for a couple of the lads to spend some time at the crease again late on and, providing the weather holds, we’re looking forward to a competitive final day.
“Oxford MCCU have been very welcoming towards us and the hospitality has been first class.”
The morning session was limited to just 20 minutes play and the early part of the afternoon again saw a lengthy stoppage before the conditions improved sufficiently to allow uninterrupted play for the rest of the day.
Lloyd Paternott, one of six students making their first class debuts in the match, tickled Fletcher away to the fine leg fence for the first runs of the second day but constant stoppages disrupted the progress for both sides.
Charlie Morris (6), who had arrived at the crease as nightwatchman, had bravely battled for 44 deliveries and 48 minutes but his fourth different start after all the rain-breaks found him out, when Shahzad fired one through his defences into the base of the off peg.
Shahzad and Andy Carter bowled quickly in tandem, drying up the scoring opportunities for Paternott, whilst putting pressure on the new batsman.
Wilf Marriott (3), captaining Oxford MCCU in only his second first class game, succumbed quickly, nicking Shahzad through to Chris Read.
Only interrupted by the rain breaks, Shahzad’s spell eventually ended with the impressive figures of 11-5-12-2.
Carter also made way, enabling Steven Mullaney to pick up the wicket of Nick Ferraby (4), clean bowled, to leave the home side on 61-5, still 27 away from the follow-on mark.
Ben Jeffery (0) had a slight reprieve when his edge off Gurney almost carried to Patel at third slip but it was a brief respite as he was adjudged lbw next ball.
Alex Martin (3) became Mullaney’s second victim, smartly taken by Patel at slip – and the bowler could have had another wicket in the same over but Andy Carter, at third slip – juggling several times – put down the new man, Sam Weller before he had scored.
Either side of tea Weller (15) played some nice shots but then lost his bearings – and the location of the ball - and went for a run, allowing Chris Read to break the wicket and run him out easily.
Karl Penhale (4) was lbw to Patel and the innings ended shortly afterwards - but not before Paternott had a great moment to savour.
The 22 year old punched Fletcher for four to bring up his half century (232 minutes 172 balls 5x4). His celebration was deserved but may have affected his concentration slightly because Fletcher pole-axed his off stump next ball.
Fletcher (2-33), Gurney (2-16), Shahzad (2-12), Mullaney (2-8) and Patel (1-16) were the wicket-takers for Notts, with only Andy Carter (0-10) missing out.
Patel and Mullaney were soon back in action starting the Nottinghamshire second innings but they were parted in the ninth over, Patel (14) falling lbw to Morris.
In fading light Riki Wessels (1) steered low to gully, off Weller, leaving Mullaney and Read to bat through to stumps on 34-2 , an overall lead of 169 , with an uncertain weather forecast surrounding the final day.