Kevin Pietersen ruined Sussex's day with an unbeaten 138 to leave Nottinghamshire hanging on in the championship match at Trent Bridge.

Sussex declared on a massive 497-6 after Robin Martin-Jenkins had struck a fine unbeaten 121.

James Kirtly then took three cheap wickets as Nottinghamshire's reply got off to a bad start.

But Russell Warren and Kevin Pieterson put on 81 for the fourth wicket before Martin-Jenkins followed his batting exploits by having Warren caught by Tony Cottey for 42.

Martin-Jenkins then dismissed Chris Cairns for a single and Chris Read was snared by Mushtaq Ahmed for a duck.

Paul Franks weighed in with 43 to give Pietersen solid support in a seventh wicket of 114.

Paul Hutchison removed Franks as the pendulum swung back in Sussex's favour, but Pietersen remained undefeated at the close, having struck two sixes and 18 fours.

Nottinghamshire: J E R Gallian (Capt), D J Bicknell, G E Welton R J Warren, K P Pietersen, C L Cairns, C M W Read (Wkt), P J Franks G D Clough, A J Harris, C E Shreck.

Sussex: M W Goodwin, R R Montgomerie, P A Cottey, C J Adams (Capt) M H Yardy, R S C Martin-Jenkins, M J Prior (Wkt), K J Innes Mushtaq Ahmed, R J Kirtley, P M Hutchison.