Gritty half-centuries from Francois du Plessis and Steven Croft ensured Lancashire recovered from a post-lunch collapse against Notts on day one.

Paul Horton and Iain Sutcliffe were in fine form as they put on 109 for the first wicket after they opted to bat.

But when Sutcliffe fell to an excellent run out by Adam Voges, Charlie Shreck took two wickets to reduce the hosts to 130-4 and staring down the barrel.

Du Plessis and Croft dug deep, though, to lead Lancashire to 260-5 at stumps.

South African Du Plessis fell for 55 towards the end of the day, caught behind off the bowling of Graeme Swann, but Croft remained unbeaten on 60 and will resume day two hoping to push the hosts into a winning position.

Notts, however, will be looking to reproduce the bowling form they showed after Sutcliffe and Horton's best opening stand of the season had been ended by Voges's direct hit.

Horton was the next to go, edging Mark Ealham's medium pace to first slip where Swann took a one-handed catch.

Mal Loye's miserable run continued as he slashed at Shreck to give Swann his second victim at slip, and it was also an unhappy Lancashire debut for Lou Vincent, who was caught behind off the bottom edge trying to hook Shreck away to the boundary.

But Du Plessis and Croft held the innings together to ensure honours were very much even.