COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Trent Bridge:
CLOSE OF PLAY DAY TWO: Lancashire 319, Nottinghamshire 178-4
Lancashire 4pts, Nottinghamshire 3pts
Match scorecard

Hales' grandfather Dennis once took Rod Laver to five sets at Wimbledon

Alex Hales led Nottinghamshire's recovery against Lancashire before rain intervened on day two at Trent Bridge.

Lancashire resumed on 300-6, but subsided to 319 all out as the tail proved unable to cope with Notts medium-pacer Andre Adams (6-79).

Notts lost wickets early in their reply, falling to 37-3 when Samit Patel was caught behind off Kyle Hogg.

But Hales (87 no) received good support from Ali Brown (28) and Chris Read (35 no) as Notts closed on 178-4.

Hales survived some early scares - and two dropped chances in the slips in consecutive overs - to post his third half-century of the season.

Sajid Mahmood claimed 2-43 but Lancashire will be disappointed not to have pressed home their advantage in conditions ideal for swing bowling.

Adams began the day's play on a hat-trick and wickets were soon tumbling as he and Ryan Sidebottom found plenty of movement in the air.

Luke Sutton was the first of four wickets to fall in 14 balls, edging an attempted drive to Patel at third slip before Sidebottom's inswinger had Mark Chilton lbw for 67.

Adams then had Mahmood lbw in the following over before wrapping up the innings by removing Hogg, who edged behind to wicketkeeper Read, with Lancashire's last seven wickets adding just 27 to the total.

Lancashire captain Glen Chapple struck back in the very first over, removing Matt Wood for a duck after four consecutive play and misses, as the opener finally edged to keeper Sutton.

Hales and Mark Wagh survived nine overs before Wagh was tempted into a drive by Mahmood and was caught at second slip by Tom Smith. Patel also fell victim to the slip cordon off Hogg, just before the lunch break.

But Hales fed on some poor bowling from Smith and Hogg after the break as Notts slowly began to turn things around.

Brown was the only wicket to fall in the afternoon session, lbw to a delivery from Mahmood which kept low.

But with Read in good form, Hales played with increasing confidence, hitting 14 fours before the rain arrived.

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