Joe Clarke and Lyndon James ground out half-centuries as Nottinghamshire batted through the final day of their LV= County Championship clash with Glamorgan to secure a hard-fought draw.

Clarke made 95 and James hit an unbeaten 76 as the visitors, having resumed on 19/1, saw off 86.4 overs at Sophia Gardens to pick up 13 spirited points and maintain their position at the summit of Division Two.

There were also valuable contributions from Ben Slater, who soaked up 118 balls for his 48, and captain Steven Mullaney, who was present with James at the conclusion for his 28 not out.

As this arm-wrestle between two sides firmly in the promotion hunt reached its final day on the banks of the River Taff, Glamorgan required a rapid start while Notts were hoping to meander through the first exchanges.

It was the hosts who got what they were after to begin with as Matthew Montgomery, who hit 80 in his first County Championship innings on Tuesday, was adjudged to be lbw to James Harris in the day’s second over.

That brought Clarke to the crease, and he and Slater successfully held out for a further 27 overs, posting a 50 partnership in the late morning before increasing that to 67.

Slater did fall to Colin Ingram on the stroke of lunch, caught and bowled, but his replacement James, alongside Clarke, was successful in guiding the visitors to the first break without further loss at 88/3.

The duo then proceeded to bat through the entire afternoon, frustrating Glamorgan at every juncture with a stand of 97 in 32 overs, as both brought up their half-centuries.

Clarke did so with a pulled single off James Harris to post the landmark in 98 balls, while James reached his with a scampered three around the corner from Ingram’s leg spin from 132 deliveries.

Tea arrived with the score looking healthy at 184/3, only for Clarke to then be adjudged to have nicked Kiran Carlson’s first ball after tea behind to wicketkeeper Chris Cooke.

Glamorgan took the second new ball as soon as it was available, but James and new man Mullaney stood firm to deny them any further gain.

There was time enough just before stumps for James to crown his 192-ball vigil by steering Notts past 250, before the draw was agreed upon with 9.2 overs to spare in the day.

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