Durham 207 (Maddinson 40, Potts 40, Paterson 3-50) and 14 for two want 563 runs to beat Nottinghamshire 662 for five dec and 121 for two dec (Hameed 49*)
Nottinghamshire secured promotion to Division One of the LV= Insurance County Championship and are successfully Division Two champions already, though their supporters must wait till the ultimate day of the season to see it mathematically confirmed.
They bowled Durham out for 207 simply 10 overs after lunch in reply to their mammoth 662 for five declared. Yet they eschewed the prospect to win the title with a flourish – and maybe a day to spare – by not imposing the comply with-on, to the bemusement of some spectators.
It left Durham, now 576 behind, with 14 overs to face once they re-emerged, of which eight have been doable earlier than the sunshine closed in once more.They completed 14 for two, having misplaced misplaced Sean Dickson, caught at third slip fending at Stuart Broad for a duck, and nightwatcher George Drissell leg earlier than to Luke Fletcher for six.
The reasoning behind Nottinghamshire’s choice to bat a second time was the topic of a lot hypothesis.
What was recognized is that it had been supposed that solely a win on this match would guarantee Nottinghamshire completed forward of nearest pursuers Middlesex to be champions, however the seven bonus factors they took from the primary innings modified the equation, that means a draw could be sufficient.
As properly as guaranteeing that Nottinghamshire completed within the prime two, these factors meant that supplied they didn’t lose this match, they’d be champions even when Middlesex took most factors from their match at Worcester.
That consequence would go away each side degree on factors, wins and defeats within the Division Two desk, however with Nottinghamshire forward on the pinnacle-to-head – the third tie-breaker within the competitors guidelines. Both matches between the perimeters this season led to attracts, however Nottinghamshire gained extra bonus factors.
With a lead of 455 and Durham a key batter quick after David Bedingham dislocated a shoulder within the area, Nottinghamshire have been odds-on to win by an innings and fairly probably earlier than the tip of the day.
That can not now occur, though a minimum of spectators will be capable of witness the final-day denouement for gratis, the membership having introduced that tickets for Thursday could be free.
Earlier, two down for 53 and nonetheless 609 behind in a single day on first innings, Durham have been in dire straits at 155 for six at lunch.
Scott Borthwick, who struck three optimistic early boundaries regardless of defending a damaged finger, minimize Fletcher straight into the palms of backward level. Drissell seemed able to hanging round however then gave a tame catch to midwicket.
It left Durham in a sorry state, which worsened instantly after lunch when Ben Raine was leg earlier than to Dane Paterson. Jonathan Bushnell batted properly for his 37 in solely his fourth first-class match earlier than he nudged the spinner to slide.
After Nottinghamshire’s choice to bat once more, Potts picked up his 58th wicket of the season as Ben Slater edged to first slip, earlier than Matt Montgomery fell for 9 following his first-innings 178, giving a equally easy catch to second slip.
Bad gentle – the bane of late September cricket – descended at 4.35pm, which meant Nottinghamshire in all probability wouldn’t have had time to bowl Durham out once more in any occasion. The lack of overs prompted the Nottinghamshire declaration, which amongst different issues denied Clarke his final alternative to attain that elusive first hundred of the season.