Nottinghamshire ended their 2015 domestic cricket programme with an eight-wicket loss at home to Hampshire, a result that confirmed a third place finish for the county.
The visitors began the final day of the LV= County Championship campaign on 89 without loss, in pursuit of a victory target of 200.
Openers Jimmy Adams and Michael Carberry had laid the foundation for the success on the third evening and they carried their stand into three figures after a watchful first half hour.
Adams moved to his 50 from 81 deliveries and Carberry followed shortly afterwards, running Stuart Broad for back-to-back boundaries to the vacant third man area to reach the milestone.
The opening stand reached 129, at which point Jake Ball struck with two wickets in as many deliveries. Adams chopped on to his stumps after making 70 and then Lions captain James Vince was cleaned up first ball by his fellow squad member.
Carberry’s half century had arrived in 110 deliveries and his vast experience was used to absorb unexpected Nottinghamshire pressure as Ball and Brett Hutton slowed up the victory charge.
With former Notts’ man Will Smith for company, Carberry unleashed several big shots as the morning session drew towards its natural conclusion and he scampered the winning run with a push to mid on off Samit Patel.
The outcome left the victors sweating on news from Headingley, where their survival hopes depended on Sussex losing their match against Yorkshire. Nottinghamshire’s defeat, their first loss in eight matches, confirmed their third place finish in the table, their best placing since 2010.
The 2015 season has seen dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.