Nottinghamshire are the early leaders in Division One of the Specsavers County Championship after defeating Surrey by three wickets at Trent Bridge.

Set to score 169 in their second innings, the hosts reached their target in 42.4 for the loss of seven wickets, although the match remained in the balance right up until the winning blow.

Surrey had been bowled out for 389 on the stroke of lunch, with Arun Harinath eventually falling for 137. The 29 year old left-hander, who had spent time at the crease on all four days of the match, batted for almost six hours and faced 270 deliveries, hitting 18 fours and a six.

Jake Ball was the pick of the Nottinghamshire attack, adding two more wickets on the final morning to finish with figures of 5-98, before he then went on to hit the winning runs.

Nottinghamshire’s run chase got off to a flying start as Steven Mullaney and Greg Smith flew out of the blocks in a stand of 72.

Driving crisply, Mullaney followed his first innings century with a run-a-ball 42, which also included a monstrous pulled six off Ravi Rampaul.

The former West Indian Test match bowler had his revenge, pinning the opener in his crease before he later had Samit Patel (6) caught in the slips and Chris Read (22) adjudged lbw.

In between, Tom Curran had ignited hopes for the southern county, with a burst of three for none in just seven balls.

Michael Lumb (2) and Riki Wessels (0) were both caught behind by Ben Foakes, with Brendan Taylor (0), taken at second slip by Jason Roy.

Greg Smith (54) had seen all his partners come and go but remained steadfast in pursuit of his first 50 for the county, getting there from 96 balls, with six fours.

With only 17 needed he became the seventh man to fall, edging behind to give Tom Curran figures of 4-58.

Hopes of any further inroads were dashed by Brett Hutton (13 not out) and Ball (9 not out), to see the side over the finishing line.

The day began with Surrey resuming on 297 for five in their second innings, with Arun Harinath at the crease on 114 not out. The left-hander had blunted the Notts attack throughout the rain-interrupted third day and was clearly Surrey’s best hope of avoiding defeat.

Sam Curran opened his individual account in the opening over of the day, creaming Harry Gurney away to the ropes for two boundaries.

The same bowler thought he’d got Harinath, caught behind for 115, but the verdict didn’t go in his favour, with both batsman and umpire looking disinterested.

Runs continued to flow in the opening half hour but a semblance of control emerged when Read took the second new ball as soon as it became due.

Ball made it work in his favour when he collected his fourth wicket of the innings, trapping Sam Curran lbw for 28.

Jackson Bird, who took four wickets in the first innings, ended Harinath’s stay. Just short of six hours at the crease, the batsman flashed hard at the Tasmanian quick, only for Wessels to take a sharp catch at slip.

Gareth Batty fell lbw for 6, giving Ball his fifth wicket and then Gurney removed Tom Curran by the same mode of dismissal for 8.

In an entertaining last wicket partnership Mark Footitt needed a new bat after snapping his first one in half and then Ravi Rampaul (13 not out) launched Hutton over long on for 6.

The stand was broken by Hutton, as Footitt (5) skied him high to Taylor at cover.

Nottinghamshire collect the full haul of 24 points from the contest, while Surrey collect only four points on their return to the top flight.