Nottinghamshire Head Coach Peter Moores was frustrated but philosophical after rain denied the hosts a comfortable Specsavers County Championship victory over Kent that would have been their sixth of the season.
After play did not get underway until 4.30pm, the visitors added 51 second innings runs from their overnight 214-7 before they were bowled out for 265, with Darren Stevens having already retired hurt and unable to bat.
Luke Fletcher and Steven Mullaney took those wickets, leaving Nottinghamshire needing 74 runs to win, but, just as they went out to bat, the heavens opened again.
Play was eventually called off for the day at just after 8.30pm.
“It is frustrating, of course, but the weather is something you can’t control,” said Moores. “We got close and everyone put the effort in, but, if you’ve been in the game for a while, you understand that things like this are part of it.
“We got so close because we bowled them out for under 200 and got a 200 lead. The only reason it got twitchy was because we dominated the game, so credit to the players for that.
“It was also a special game for us because we got a CB (career best) in it with Steven Mullaney’s 168, which was a fantastic knock.”
Nottinghamshire have taken 12 points from the match, which leaves them 26 clear of Worcestershire at the top of the Specsavers County Championship Division Two table ahead of their Lord’s final on Saturday, followed by the onset of the NatWest T20 Blast.
Their next four-day fixture will not start until August 6 when they make the short trip along the A52 to play Derbyshire.
Moores added: “We are exactly where we wanted to be. The goal to be promoted is there and there are three or four sides playing really good cricket.
“We know there is a lot of hard work still to do, but we’ve been competitive in all our games and dominant in most of them. We had a bit of good fortune against Derbyshire to get a draw, but then this game against Kent hasn’t gone our way with the weather.”
“I’d like to mention the efforts of Head Groundsman Steve Birks and his team, who were terrific in their attempts to get the game finished, just as they have been terrific all year.
“We’ve also wanted to get pace back in the pitches at Trent Bridge and we’ve seen that in this game. Some sides have said they’ve seen the pink ball not carry, but it has done really nicely here.”
Moores confirmed Stuart Broad is on course to play at Essex, provided he comes through a final fitness test.
“Stuart seems fine and will bowl tomorrow in the nets. If he comes through that he’ll be OK to play on Saturday,” said Moores.
Meanwhile, young seamer Matt Milnes has signed a deal at Trent Bridge until the end of the season.
The 22-year-old Nottingham-born bowler was previously not contracted to the Club and playing matches when available.
Nottinghamshire’s Second XI three-day fixture against Yorkshire at York was abandoned as a draw without a ball being bowled due to rain.
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