I was laughing Jason Gallian on being run out for 199...again

Nottinghamshire's hopes of pushing for the win that could award them the Championship title were dampened by showers on day two in Canterbury.

Notts progressed from 397-5 to 455-6 at stumps in the 16 overs bowled after Jason Gallian was run out for 199 for the second time this season.

Mark Ealham was unbeaten on 61 with Graeme Swann 13 not out.

They picked up maximum batting points, and victory with seven bonus points will guarantee them the title.

Play only got under way during the evening session after persistent rain left the outfield sodden.

Gallian had added eight runs to his overnight score when Ealham, formerly of Kent, called him through for a fourth run only to be beaten by a Neil Dexter throw to the striker's end from the long-on boundary.

Gallian was able to smile afterwards: "I was laughing. It was just one of those situations, going for some quick runs to try to make the most of our total and win the game."

The dismissal echoed Gallian's demise against Sussex at Trent Bridge in April.

The wicket has quite a bit in it, and we are delighted with out total Mark Ealham

"That one was totally my fault. I couldn't believe it had happened again today," he added.

Four teams - Kent, Hampshire and Sussex are the others - could yet win the title, and the weather forecast for the remainder of the match in Canterbury is not encouraging from a Notts perspective.

But Ealham insists there is enough in the Canterbury pitch to suggest the visitors already have plenty of runs on the board.

"The wicket has quite a bit in it, and we are delighted with out total," Ealham said.

"They missed quite a few chances, and from 190-4 there was definitely enough in it to be 300 all out.

"But Jason takes some shifting, and I think they just bowled a little bit too short at us."

Ealham said it would be a dream come true to win the Championship at his former home ground.

"To come back here and win the Championship would be fantastic," said Ealham, who spent 14 seasons with Kent, continuing a dynasty begun by his father Alan in 1966.

"Returning with another club, having not won the championship with Kent in all those years, makes it a bit of an odd one for me."