Lancashire's Championship hopes became fainter as Nottinghamshire's batsmen dominated the opening day.

Needing at least a win at Trent Bridge, the visitors put Notts into bat, only to see four men hit half-centuries.

Captain Jason Gallian led the way with 83 in an opening stand of 165 with Darren Bicknell, who made 75.

John Wood celebrated gaining his county cap with three wickets but they came at a cost of 80 runs.

Visiting fans with ears to the radio received news that favourites Sussex had closed to within 163 runs of the title, whatever the result here.

Nottinghamshire: D J Bicknell, J E R Gallian (Capt) C M W Read (Wkt), R J Warren, K P Pietersen, B M Shafayat, S R Patel P J Franks, A J Harris, G J Smith, S C G MacGill.

Lancashire: M J Chilton, I J Sutcliffe, M B Loye, S G Law C L Hooper, W K Hegg (Capt, Wkt), G Chapple, G Keedy, P J Martin J Wood, K W Hogg.