Notts added seven runs to their overnight total before Neil Carter bowled Patel.
Hales who had made most of Notts runs up to this point was out for 53 when Carter picked up his second wicket thanks to a catch by Rikki Clarke.
Then with the Notts score on 69, Carter took his third wicket when he had David Hussey caught by Darren Maddy.
Wagh and Mullaney put on 58 for the fourth wicket before the latter was caught behind by Tim Ambrose to give a wicket for Boyd Rankin who bowled Brown to leave Notts on 131-5.
Wagh and Chris Read came together and at tea had taken the score to 226-5 after 71 overs.