Chris Read hits unbeaten 77 as Notts close in on Middlesex total

Chris Read led Nottinghamshire into a decent position at tea on day three of their LV= County Championship game against Middlesex at Trent Bridge.

The Notts captain helped himself to an unbeaten 77 as the host county not only survived the afternoon session without losing a wicket, but moved to within 63 of Middlesex’s first innings total of 374 all out.

Read, who struck eight fours in reaching his half century, off 101 balls, was given valuable support from Brett Hutton, who was 26 not out at tea. The pair put on an unbeaten 82 for the seventh wicket to further frustrate the Division One high-flyers.

The only real chance for the visitors saw Ollie Rayner put down a sharp, one-handed catch at slip when Read had reached 54, at 279 for 6. The drop also took the pair to their 50 partnership, off 105 balls.