Ben Duckett’s maiden Specsavers County Championship hundred went a long way to securing a draw for Nottinghamshire against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Duckett scored 140, making his runs from 237 balls, with 19 fours and two sixes. The left-hander put on 199 for the second wicket with Chris Nash, who made 85.

Notts had a few scares in the second half of the final day but had reached 354 for eight, an overall lead of 60, by the time the captains were happy to shake on a draw.

The former Northants batsman had scored a double-hundred against Cambridge MCCU in pre-season but admitted he had been waiting for the moment when he could convert a start for Notts.

“Obviously I was looking for my first hundred for Notts in the Championship and I guess there was no better time for it,” said Duckett.

“I think we were in a bit of trouble, so for me it was pretty easy in my head – just bat for as long as I could. I wasn’t particularly looking to score runs but they took care of themselves.

“Obviously Nashy made it very easy. That partnership took a lot of pressure off the others.

“I think it was one of those wickets where if you get in on it and form a partnership it was a lot easier. I think when we lost wickets in the first innings it sort of happened very quickly.

“We spoke last night and this morning about trying to dig in. We knew if we did lose a wicket it was going to be hard for the guy coming in.”

Duckett praised the Warwickshire bowlers, who pressed all day trying to get the victory that would lift them well clear of Notts in the table.

“Credit to them, they bowled well but I think it was a great team effort there from us, right throughout the day,” said the 24-year old.

“I was extremely disappointed to get out (when I did). I’d have taken 140 at the start of the day but my job wasn’t done there. I wanted to be there at the end of the day with a really big score. The game wasn’t over until the whole team walked off at the end of the day.

“We knew things could happen quickly. I’m a bad watcher. When my job is done I don’t really like watching as I get pretty nervous, so I was disappointed I wasn’t there right until the end.

“We were poor yesterday and should never have been in this position but Mooresy (Head Coach Peter Moores) just spoke and said for a new team we’re still learning and the confidence we can take from today will hopefully be taken into the next few games.” 

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