Nottinghamshire succumbed to defeat to Middlesex in the LV = Insurance County Championship following a dramatic chase which concluded in the final embers of the fourth day at Lord’s.

The hosts’ victory target of 249 was chased with one over to spare after Steven Mullaney declared when play finally resumed at 3:30pm following rain, in an effort to force a victory.

A positive start from the Seaxes made that look result unlikely, with the odds swinging the way of a home win, but regular wickets, including three for Stuart Broad, took the game to the death before the defeat was confirmed.

A timely resumption at 11am was initially delayed pending a heavy downpour which did not materialise.

When the covers were removed, a planned 12:30pm start was prevented by drizzly conditions.

It meant that, with Nottinghamshire 158/6, captain Mullaney declared to give the visitors enough time to take the 10 required wickets for a win.

Middlesex promoted Stephen Eskinazi to opener and his drive to the cover boundary off Broad’s second ball served as an indication of their intent.

Broad made the breakthrough by trapping Eskinazi in front for 11 but Mark Stoneman gave Brett Hutton the charge, lifting him over the top for four as well as benefitting from the odd edge through the slip area.

Stoneman flicked Broad into the grandstand for six as he advanced to 43 from 32 deliveries, eventually departing leg before to Dane Paterson and handing the baton over to Holden, who promptly pierced the field for successive boundaries.

The left-hander continued to pick out the gaps as he and Malan kept pace with the required rate of just under a run a ball through manipulation of the field.

Their partnership realised 94 from 77 deliveries, before Mullaney tempted Malan to hole out to Ben Slater at deep square leg with 73 still needed.

Broad returned for his second spell, switching to the Nursery End and he soon claimed the wicket of Holden, caught pulling down the leg side before the England seamer persuaded Luke Hollman to chip to mid-on.

Middlesex lost John Simpson in the same manner and, with overhead conditions dimming as they inched towards the target, Paterson sent down two tight overs to turn up the pressure on the batting side.

But Ryan Higgins, with an unbeaten 22 from as many deliveries, steered the Seaxes home in the penultimate over.