Nottinghamshire’s rain affected Second XI Championship fixture against Durham ebbed to a foreseeable draw on the final day at Emirates Riverside despite a bludgeoning performance with the bat from Joey Evison and Sol Budinger.

Evison amassed 91 from 103 balls and put on a century partnership with Budinger, who himself clubbed 70 from 46 balls as Notts declared 174 runs ahead, needing 10 wickets within two sessions for a victory by an innings.   

In a bid to do so, the visitors managed three wickets, but Sean Dickson (103*) provided resistance for Durham during the 30 overs of play possible to secure a draw.

Resuming the fourth day on 101 for the loss of one wicket, Matthew Montgomery could only add nine to his overnight half-century before edging Matt Potts behind.

It brought the powerful Budinger to the crease, who set to task straight away. The right-hander accelerated at a run-a-ball from the outset and rotated well with Evison who himself tucked into some loose bowling.

Budinger brought up his half-century from 34 balls, before fizzing to Paul Coughlin at mind-on to bring to the end an innings which included 11 fours and two sixes.

Evison battled on, dominating the strike as Peter Trego, Ben Wilcox and Calvin Harrison all fell leg before and Dane Schadendorf edged to fly-slip.

By the time Evison was caught at long-on, he had hit 13 fours and two sixes to put Notts on 302, in a position of strength.

Rain forced the sides off before the Green and Golds were able to find a breakthrough in response, and an early tea made the possibility of a win all the more unlikely.

Toby Pettman and Tom Barber struck in consecutive overs to give a glimmer of hope to Nottinghamshire, the former trapping Clarke in front before Barber found a gap through Michael Jones' defences to flatten the stumps.

In the time remaining, James Hayes jagged a delivery through Jonathan Bushnell for his first wicket of the game, but the writing was on the wall for the sides who shook hands at six o’clock, Notts bringing six bonus points back down the M1.