Nottinghamshire battled throughout the final day to earn a draw against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in their latest Specsavers County Championship encounter.

Ben Duckett and Chris Nash paved the way for the result by frustrating the home side for the first half of the day, extending their second-wicket partnership to 199.

Duckett was eventually dismissed for 140 and Nash made 85 but their departures gave Warwickshire hope of securing the win.

Lower order resistance finally took Notts into the overall lead and the captain’s shook hands on the draw with the score on 354 for eight, an advantage of 60 with only a couple of overs left to be bowled.

A heavy shower of rain delayed the start of play by 20 minutes, lopping five overs from the day’s allocation.

Duckett was gifted two leg-side deliveries from Jeetan Patel at the start and tickled them away for a total of six runs.

Nash, at the other end, was quickly into his stride, hitting Liam Norwell for three consecutive boundaries.

The tone had been set and Patel soon brought himself out of the attack, rotating his seamers instead.

Duckett moved relentlessly in the 90s, then applauded his partner who passed 50 for the fourth time this season, getting there from 105 balls with eight fours.

Norwell gave Duckett enough width for the left-hander to run the ball down to third man for the three to bring up his 16th first-class hundred, from 155 balls, with 16 fours and a six.

Warwickshire appealed long and loud for an lbw verdict against Nash when he was on 59 but umpire Robinson was already holding his arm out to signal a no ball.

By lunch (207 for one) the second-wicket partnership was already worth 167 and the deficit had been reduced to 87.

Both batsmen continued with an air of calmness for the first 45 minutes of the middle session but it began to unravel after Jeetan Patel returned from the Birmingham End.

The spinner was heaved over the ropes for six by Duckett to take the score to 239 for one -and the second-wicket stand to 199 – but next ball a bat-pad offering was gleefully accepted by Hain at short leg.

Joe Clarke fell in the 77th over for a second-ball nought and Samit Patel (2) followed to the new ball, edging Brookes to slip.

Warwickshire then had even more reason to celebrate, as Nash’s long vigil ended after almost five hours at the crease when he was given out lbw.

Umpire Tim Robinson made that decision and was then replaced on the field by Tom Lungley, summoned to deputise after Robinson had reported feeling unwell.

Steven Mullaney and Tom Moores guided Notts to tea at 270 for five, still 24 behind.

The drama was far from over as Warwickshire picked up three more wickets to keep their hopes alive.

Mullaney popped a catch up to leg slip for 29, giving Jeetan Patel his 10th wicket of the match.

Moores followed, snicking Norwell behind for 17 and when Luke Fletcher (9) gave Brookes a return catch, the lead was 48 with nine overs left.

James Pattinson (19 not out) and Stuart Broad (1 not out) held firm to secure the draw.

Notts take a total of six points from the match and are back in action on Sunday, when they face Hampshire at Welbeck.

*******

Join us at Trent Bridge as part of the privileged with a Nottinghamshire Membership. Packages start from £29 and you can find out more by clicking here...