Northamptonshire threw away a decent start as Nottinghamshire’s Australia seamer Peter Siddle took four wickets to turn the match back in the host’s favour.
In a year’s time Siddle, who did so much damage to England last winter, could well be playing the villain rather than the hero at Trent Bridge after the ground was again named as a venue for the 2015 summer Ashes series.
However, for now the right-arm seamer is establishing himself as a firm favourite with the home fans having arrived as their overseas player this season.
It took a while for Siddle and his fellow bowlers to get a grip of the game though as, after the rain that washed out the opening day finally relented for the game to begin after lunch, Northamptonshire’s openers made light of being put into bat.
Captain Stephen Peters and James Middlebrook put on 107 inside 27 overs but their partnership was broken when Siddle had the latter caught behind and from there the visitors were never in control.
Within 10 minutes Siddle had a second victim when he removed David Sales as Northamptonshire, who have signed New Zealand bowler Ian Butler until the end of July and compatriot Neil Wagner for the final five championship matches of the season, reached tea at 130 for two.
It was Nottinghamshire’s Kiwi Andre Adams, making his first appearance of the season, who made a telling contribution as he flattened Matt Spriegel’s middle stump and then held on as Peters (88) clipped Siddle to midwicket.
The Australian bowler claimed a fourth victim when Ben Duckett gave wicketkeeper Chris Read his third catch of the innings while two quick wickets from Ajmal Shazad saw him finish with three for 44 as Northamptonshire slipped to 241 for eight at stumps.