When two wickets fell to Kevin Pietersen, however, Key was starting to get anxious to find a partner who could stick around. David Fulton (7) came and went, stumped by Chris Read, and so did Ed Smith (1), who edged behind to Read with the score now on 129 for five. Key held firm to close with Paul Nixon (21 no) offering able support.

Earlier, Amjad Khan's early double strike had Nottinghamshire on the back foot from the sixth over when he removed Jason Gallian (12) and Darren Bicknell (11). Paul Johnson (19) was next to go, after hitting two fours and moving the score onto 78, caught at deep backward square-leg by Hockley off James Golding.

In the next over Fleming struck to remove Usman Afzaal (33), leaving Nottinghamshire on 81 for four off 20.3 overs. Kevin Pietersen made 24 before being run out by Khan following a mix-up with Boje, leaving Nottinghamshire on 119 for five, but three wickets in five balls saw the visitors slump to 146 for eight.

First Andrew Symonds bowled Boje off an inside edge for 25, then Golding took two in successive balls - Read (12) given lbw while playing back and Greg Smith trapped lbw playing across the line.

The tail briefly wagged, Gareth Clough making 22 off 18 balls before being caught at deep mid-off by Symonds, and number nine Andy Harris finished unbeaten on 16 as Nottinghamshire closed on 191 for nine.

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