Chris Read reached an historic milestone on a day of high emotion at Trent Bridge as Nottinghamshire pulled off an astonishing 52-run victory over Durham in the LV= County Championship.
The 37-year old became the first wicketkeeper since Jack Russell in 1997 to reach the landmark of 1,000 first class dismissals and his big moment came during a passage of play where Durham threw away their overall dominance in a contest that they had bossed since winning the toss.
Set to score 215 to win, Durham had been well set at 57-1 before losing four wickets within the space of just 5.4 overs. One of those to depart was Paul Collingwood, who nicked through to the Nottinghamshire glove man to herald scenes of great jubilation, both on and off the field.
Brett Hutton was the main thorn in the side of the batsmen, completing his second five-wicket haul within the space of 24 hours, in taking five for 29.
Nottinghamshire couldn’t have wished for a better start to the third day as Riki Wessels and Samit Patel led the fightback. The early bursts from Graham Onions and Chris Rushworth were resisted and both batsmen began to prosper.
Patel was spilled on 33 by wicketkeeper Michael Richardson, after a genuine nick from Onions flew low towards the gloves.
Wessels reached his 50 from 62 balls, seven of which had been hit for fours. He then celebrated by getting hold of Ryan Pringle’s off-spin. A mighty heave flew into the Larwood and Vice Stand for six and was followed by a deft tickle to fine leg and a punch through the covers, both for fours.
His partner brought up his own half century with his eighth boundary, made from 87 deliveries and had 60 to his name by lunch.
Durham gained their only wicket of the morning session when Wessels fell for 85, nicking Barry McCarthy into the safe hands of Paul Collingwood at first slip.
Chris Read began positively after the re-start but paid the price for one adventurous shot too many when he picked out Rushworth at deep square leg, off Pringle, for 15.
Patel, meanwhile, moved to his second Championship century of the season, getting there from 154 balls (12x4, 1x6). His joy at reaching the milestone was obvious but emotions flicked quickly as he then lifted his next delivery from Rushworth into the hands of Onions at fine leg.
Pringle ended a stand of 53 by bowling Brett Hutton for 27 and he repeated the delivery to send back Jake Ball for 6.
Luke Wood, who made an unbeaten 65 in the first innings, added 35 more useful runs before swishing at Scott Borthwick’s leg spin and skying the ball to Collingwood.
Jack Burnham was bowled for a golden duck in the opening over of the chase, shouldering arms to Jake Ball.
Harry Gurney removed Scott Borthwick and Michael Stoneman in a superb opening over to arrest Durham’s charge towards the finishing line and Hutton backed him with the wickets of Michael Richardson, Collingwood and Pringle.
Ball returned to the attack to remove Jamie Harrison and Gordon Muchall, sufficient wounds for the umpires to accede to Read’s request for an extra half hour.
Hutton quickly polished things off, with the scalps of Rushworh and Onions, to finish with match figures of 10 for 106.
The victory was Nottinghamshire’s fourth in a row, the first time they have achieved that since 2010. Conversely, this was the seventh match that Durham have gone without a Championship win, six of those games having finished in a defeat.
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