CENTURIES FOR LIBBY AND TAYLOR AS NOTTINGHAMSHIRE DOMINATE DAY TWO

Centuries from Jake Libby and James Taylor helped Nottinghamshire close on 310-3 on the second day of their LV= County Championship match against Sussex at Trent Bridge.

On his county debut Libby scored 108 from 262 balls, hitting 16 fours and sharing in a stand of 181 in 48 overs with Taylor, who ended the day on 101 not out.

Earlier, Sussex had come within 9 runs of maximum batting points before being bowled out for 391.

Libby couldn’t hide his delight.

"Both parents were in the crowd and it’s obviously a great moment for them," Jake Libby.

“The whole day has been crazy, it’s just been surreal,” he said. “I was very nervous in the nineties and obviously to get it away past point for the hundred was a great moment. Both parents were in the crowd and it’s obviously a great moment for them. I’m just chuffed with how it has gone.”

Libby opened the innings with Alex Hales, two cricketers on the opposite ends of the experience spectrum but with some similarities – sharing the same middle name, Daniel – and the same 3^rd of January birthday.

The two right-handers were both reprieved by Ed Joyce. Hales put down from the bowling of Chris Jordan and Libby, on 25, dropped off Steve Magoffin.

From then on chances were few and far between as Hales passed 1,000 first class runs for the season, although 78 of them had come during his one match loan to Worcestershire earlier in the campaign.

Hales advanced to 57 but was then beaten by a Magoffin delivery that nipped back and clipped his off stump. Michael Lumb followed swiftly, edging behind without scoring.

Libby had been becalmed at the start of the afternoon, scoring just one run in 35 minutes before kicking on to reach his first 50 (119 balls 8x4) for the county.

Libby, who had played two first class matches for Cardiff MCCU in April, advanced to his 50 from 119 balls, with 8 fours and showed great temperament throughout. Alert enough to punish a tiring attack, he played his shots all around the wicket and had the ideal partner in Taylor, who could appreciate what was at stake for the youngster.

Shortly after joining Nottinghamshire in 2012 Taylor had scored a century on his own first class debut for the county, against Loughborough MCCU and last year on his solitary appearance for Sussex, as a guest player against the Australians, he did the same at Hove.

Libby’s hundred came just before the second new ball was due, running Chris Nash to the third man boundary to become only the 11^th Nottinghamshire player to score a ton on debut – and first since Taylor, who was quick to congratulate his batting partner.

A couple of overs later Libby was gone, departing to a standing ovation after being bowled by Lewis Hatchett.

Taylor had enough time left in the day to reach his first Championship century of the season, his own hundred coming from 146 balls with 12 fours.

Luke Fletcher bowled a maiden to begin the action as Sussex started the day on 358-9. Ashar Zaidi immediately showed his hand by refusing to take a couple of singles, preferring to remain on strike and not to expose Lewis Hatchett.

Runs flowed, although Samit Patel put down an edge off Fletcher when Zaidi had 23.

Luke Wood again impressed, bowling from the Radcliffe Road End but when he gave way to Harry Gurney the final wicket quickly fell, with the left-armer clipping off a bail to finish with 2-77. Fletcher (3-67) and Wood (2-87) were the only other bowlers used.