The performance of Nottinghamshire seamer Luke Wood in the defeat at Northamptonshire has been singled out for praise by Head Coach Peter Moores.

The Green and Golds were disappointed to be beaten by 124 runs at Wantage Road in a result that means the Specsavers County Championship Division Two promotion and title race will go down to the final week.

While Moores admits his side were outplayed by a team they had beaten at Trent Bridge last month, he found some solace in the excellence of Wood who took 4-52 and 4-31 for match figures of 8-83.

The 22-year-old also showed real maturity with the bat as he twice made 44 – the highest score in both of Notts’ innings – when coming in as a nightwatchman.

“Luke had a great game,” said Moores. “He’s been in reasonably good rhythm for a while now without getting the wickets, so it’s nice to see him get his rewards in both innings.

“He also looked good with the bat and handled the nightwatchman role very well, which isn’t easy.

“He’s in a good place and the way he has performed should give him a real shot of confidence ahead of what will be a very important game at Sussex that week.”

Notts travel to Hove for their final fixture knowing that 12 points will be enough to guarantee a return to English cricket’s four-day top-flight at the first attempt.

But if they are to win the title, they now have to rely on results elsewhere, as top-of-the-table Worcestershire will finish first if they beat Durham at home.

Third placed Northants’ final game is a trip to the Fischer County Ground, Grace Road to take on Leicestershire, but Moores will only be interested in the performance of his side.

He said: “We have played on a couple of tough pitches in our last two games, but our top order hasn’t fared well and that has put us under pressure. We have to get that right pretty quickly because the Sussex game is not far away.

“The positive is that promotion is still very much in our own hands and I know the 11 we put out to play will be determined to make it happen.”

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