COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Trent Bridge:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Nottinghamshire 328 and 236-7, Sussex 243 (Notts 6pts, Sussex 4pts)
23-26 September

Captain Chris Read has gone past 50 in 10 Championship innings in 2009

Nottinghamshire are in a good position to secure victory over relegated Sussex thanks to skipper Chris Read's second half-century of the match.

Knowing that a win would guarantee the £225,000 prize for second place in the County Championship, Read hit nine fours and a six to reach 64 not out.

Bad light then brought an early end to the day's play at Trent Bridge, with Notts on 236-7, 321 runs ahead.

But they are already scenting a first Championship win since June 14.

Read put on 80 for the seventh wicket with Akhil Patel, the younger brother of Samit, to rescue Notts from a precarious 107-6.

Samit Patel then hit 54 before giving his wicket away by hooking straight to long leg, one of three wickets for Dwayne Smith.

But Nottinghamshire finish the day in command, with 40-year-old Mark Ealham unbeaten on 23 in his final first-class innings before retirement.

Ealham helped Notts' top Championship run scorer Read add 49 before the close.

And the hosts will now need to decide when to declare on the final day in order to set up their first win in three months - and earn that handsome pay cheque.

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