A strong batting performance ensured the Nottinghamshire academy secured a winning draw against Clifton. 

After being put in to bat first, the Academy had an excellent start with Sam Kelsall and Matt Cross reaching 158 for the first wicket, the latter caught behind off Moore in the 28th over.

Tom Rowe joined Kelsall and the pair added 99, both reaching 50 before departing in the 43rd. Rowe was stumped off Turner, before Kelsall was caught by Harvey, Notts 258-3.

The Academy finished on 322-6, three more wickets falling by the end of the innings. Lucas had Anuj Dal caught, before Weightman caught Sam Wood off Turner and Hassan Azad was run out in a mix-up with Connor Marshall in the 47th. Marshall (21*) and Adam Tillcock (23*) saw off the remaining balls to close the innings, with Alex Turner’s 3-85 the pick of the bowling figures.

Requiring just over a run per ball, Clifton’s openers Coombes and McNeill reached 28 before the former pulled a Bacon delivery to Anuj Dal on the boundary. 

Harris joined McNeill and the pair took Clifton to 126 before harris was caught on the boundary off Tillcock. Weightman was the new man in and by the 25-over drinks break the score was 139-2. Nine overs later Tillcock claimed his second, trapping McNeill on 71, Clifton 175-3.

Dominic Harvey was the next to the crease but with Tillcock and Sam Wood bowling spin at both ends the Academy checked the Clifton scoring rate. In the 38th Tillcock bowled Harvey, bringing LeBreton to the middle with the score 183-4. 

The Clifton momentum was checked even further as the overs went by and in the 44th Weightman (41) was trapped lbw by the spin of Connor Marshall after Clifton had made 210.

David Lucas joined LeBreton, but Marshall accounted for the latter, caught by Dal with the first ball of the final over. Hollingsworth faced the final five balls of the match without scoring, the Clifton innings closing on 233-6 and a winning draw for the Academy. Adam Tillcock was the pick of the Notts bowlers, taking 3-70 off 15 overs.