Notts Outlaws must now rely on other results going their way to qualify for the semi-finals of the Friends Provident Trophy after a one-wicket defeat by Durham.
Notts Outlaws 238 -8 (Fleming 98)
Durham Dynamos 242-9 (Ealham 3-20)
Durham Dynamos won by one wicket
Scorecard
The two sides went into the match knowing that the victor would be assured of a place in the last four of the competition.
But despite a stylish 98 from skipper Stephen Fleming and a tight spell from Mark Ealham, the hosts were able to squeeze home by one wicket with an over to spare.
Fleming opted to bat after winning the toss but had a rebuilding job to do when Bilal Shafayat, Mark Wagh and David Hussey all fell cheaply.
Samit Patel and Chris Read helped the New Zealander with useful partnerships as both made 30, while Fleming hit 13 fours before he was caught behind two short of his century.
Phil Mustard put Notts on the back foot with a rapid 71, but two quick wickets from Ealham put the visitors back in the hunt.
With the wickets falling, Durham still needed 21 off four overs when last man Neil Killeen came in.
But all-rounder Gareth Breese hit an unbeaten 68 to seal the victory with two consecutive boundaries off AJ Harris.
The result leaves Notts in third place in the North Conference with one game left in the group stages, following Warwickshire's win over Scotland.
It means that the Outlaws have to beat Lancashire on Wednesday and hope that their conquerors Durham claim victory over Warwickshire to qualify for the semi-finals.