Scorecard
Nottinghamshire have beaten Durham at Trent Bridge to go top of the LV= County Championship.
The victory extends Nottinghamshire’s winning start in the competition to four consecutive victories, the first time the county have achieved that feat since 1922.
Durham, county champions for the past two seasons, hadn’t lost a four day fixture since a reverse against Hampshire at Basingstoke in 2008 but after second-innings centurion Ben Stokes was caught on the boundary by Steven Mullaney, Notts knew that remarkable record would be shattered.
“We wanted to play a lot of home games in the early part of the season and we knew that strategy could pay off if the weather was good and the pitches were right and things have fallen into place for us.”
Darren Pattinson bowled Ben Harmison to secure victory by an innings and 62 runs.
“When the players arrived this morning we talked about the fact that Durham had proven to be the best team in the country over the last two years and that they wouldn’t turn up and roll over,” said Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell.
“Having a 50 point margin between us and them puts us in a strong position. They bullied us twice last year and we’ve been able to complete a convincing win without two of our front line bowlers and the players deserve a lot of credit for that.
“We’re playing well but there have been a lot of positive results around the division this season and I expect the eventual champions to have won at least nine matches.
“We wanted to play a lot of home games in the early part of the season and we knew that strategy could pay off if the weather was good and the pitches were right and things have fallen into place for us.”
Pattinson finished with four wickets but Paul Franks match figures were the most impressive. Three wickets in each innings and a quick-fire 64 maintained his increasing influence on the team.
Stokes aside, Durham offered little resistance and must improve if they are to compete for as third consecutive crown. Nottinghamshire will play down expectations but are already emerging as genuine contenders.