An outstanding performance from Adam Tillcock saw Nottinghamshire’s Second Eleven secure a 29-run victory over Durham, taking five wickets to ensure the visitors’ total of 252 stayed out of reach.
His performance with the ball followed some excellent tail-end batting from Brett Hutton and Jake Ball. At 135-8 Nottinghamshire looked in trouble, but a half century from captain Ball and 44 from Hutton saw their side post a competitive total.
After being put in by Durham, Notts lost opening batsmen Sam Kelsall and Jake Libby in successive balls, Kelsall hitting the last delivery of the sixth over to cover, before Libby edged the first of the seventh behind to keeper Stuart Poynter, a wicket apiece for Matt Milnes and Josh Bousfield.
Will Root made 12 before edging Bousfield to slip, Nottinghamshire wobbling on 42-3. Anuj Dal and Sam Wood fought back, taking Notts past 100 in the 20th over. Dal was then bowled by Max Morley for 36, ending a partnership of 76, and four overs later Wood was run out for 32.
Hassan Azad was bowled by Ryan Buckley without scoring Brett Hutton was joined by Adam Tillcock, but Buckley got the better of him too, trapping him LBW for four.
At 127-7 Notts looked in trouble, and their plight worsened when Tom Moores became Buckley’s third victim, courtesy of another LBW decision.
When Jake Ball entered the fray at 135-8, Notts still had 16 full overs ahead of them. Playing positively from the start, Ball saw his side first past 150, then a 50 partnership with Hutton followed. Nottinghamshire passed 200 with a six from Ball, and he completed a 42-ball 50 in the 43rd over.
He skied Morley to Milnes on 56 though, ending an 84-run partnership with Notts on 219-9. Fortunately Hutton continued to take runs where offered, taking his side past 250 before sweeping Buckley to Carr. He finished on 44, Nottinghamshire 252 all out, with Ben Kitt the not out batsman with 15. Buckley finished with 4-25 from 6.2 overs.
The Durham reply started well, their opening batsmen combining in a stand of 84 for the first wicket before Sam Wood broke the deadlock, trapping Adam Hickey LBW one run shy of his 50.
His partner, Graham Clark, didn’t last much longer, getting a leading edge on an Adam Tillcock delivery which found Brett Hutton at cover.
Tillcock then took two in an over, trapping Ryan Pringle LBW then having Mark Wood caught by keeper Tom Moores.
Anuj Dal brought the best out of Jake Ball’s fielding, a catch at deep mid on at full stretch saw off Reece Carr and gave the young Nottinghamshire player his first wicket of the match.
By this time, Durham were 131-5 after 31.4 overs. Ryan Buckley came and went, run out by Jake Libby for two. Stuart Poynter provided the sternest resistance, and reached 50 in the 45th over, the home side 214-6. Sam Wood ran out Barry McCarthy, who had made 39, bringing Matt Milnes to the middle.
He lasted three balls before being caught off Tillcock, and the Nottinghamshire man completed his five-fer with the next delivery, bowling Max Morley to leave the home side on 223-9, still trailing by 29 runs.
With Josh Bousfield unable to take to the field, Nottinghamshire were declared winners by 29 runs, Adam Tillcock ending with the standout figures of 5-39 off 9.5 overs.