Joe Clarke’s battling century was not enough for Nottinghamshire to hold Durham to a draw as the hosts prevailed late on in a tense clash at Banks Homes Riverside.

A fifty from Colin Ackermann helped the hosts get over the line by seven wickets as they successfully completed a chase of 91 in the final 18 overs of the match.

It was Durham’s morning as the hosts picked up three of the nine wickets they needed including the vital scalp of Ben Slater, who made 74, his second half-century of the match. 

However, Clarke counter-attacked either side of lunch and managed to take his side into the lead before notching up his first hundred of the season. 

There was a late twist though as Durham’s bowling attack, led by Ben Raine, picked up five wickets after tea to bowl Nottinghamshire out for 347. 

The chase got off to a dramatic start as the hosts lost two wickets at the hands of Mohammad Abbas, but the experienced head of Ackermann saw them home.

Slater and nightwatcher Rob Lord resumed on 67 for one, still 190 behind Durham, and their aim was to bat out the day. 

Lord departed for 15 as he edged a James Minto ball to Ben McKinney in the slips before Brydon Carse bowled Freddie McCann for six with one that clipped the off-stump.

Slater remained at the crease and he passed fifty for the second time in the match from 69 balls, utilising the pace of Carse to good effect as he carved one to the boundary. 

The Nottinghamshire opener continued to play nicely, but he was the next man to fall as he was caught behind from a Codi Yusuf delivery for a well-made 74.

Clarke was joined in the middle by Jack Haynes and the former looked good as he smashed a Raine delivery to the off-side boundary.

He continued to take chunks out of the hosts’ lead with a lovely shot for four through third just before lunch, as he and Haynes combined for a fifty partnership.

Haynes was very much a foil for Clarke’s aggression, but he departed for 24 as George Drissell pinned him LBW.

Joined by South African international Kyle Verreynne, who produced a delightful drive through the covers for four, Clarke and Nottinghamshire edged into the lead.

Verreynne, who had looked comfortable, was then caught behind from the first ball after tea as Drissell coaxed an edge behind to Ollie Robinson for 38.

Clarke reached his 25th First Class century from 140 balls, but another wicket fell as Lyndon James was caught behind off the bowling of Ackermann.

Durham’s excellent session continued as Raine bowled Liam Patterson-White for three, and he then struck again to remove Brett Hutton.

Clarke’s excellent knock of 119 ended as he chopped on from a Yusuf delivery, setting Durham their target.

There was more drama though, as McKinney was bowled by Abbas for a first-ball duck, and Emilio Gay was caught behind.

However, Netherlands international Ackermann clubbed a ball to the boundary to take his side within 50, and he followed that up with a cover drive for four.

Rob Lord picked up the wicket of home captain Alex Lees as he skied one vertically that nestled in Verreynne’s gloves for 31.

Late on, though, Ackermann passed fifty, and in doing so, took Durham to their target, with Brydon Carse hitting the winning runs with 10 balls to spare.