Nottinghamshire fell to their first defeat of the season in Chris Read’s final game at Trent Bridge as Worcestershire were victorious by eight wickets.

A measured century from Daryl Mitchell, who scored an unbeaten 139 from 212 balls with 21 fours and two sixes, saw the visitors successfully chase down their victory target of 226.

The 33-year old opener had reached his sixth hundred of the season from 191 deliveries, having hit 16 boundaries.

Joe Clarke, who had been dismissed for a first ball duck on the second day, provided solid support in an unbroken partnership of 106, by making 28 not out.

Speaking after the game, Chris Read was disappointed with the outcome of the game.

“It wasn’t the ending to the game that we desired and I think all through the four days we have been out-played, so that is a little bit disappointing and leaves us with plenty of work to go on for the next couple of games," he said.
 
“I don’t think we coped on the first day as well as we have done all year, we know here that under leaden skies there can be movement through the air and off the pitch.

"For the majority of this season we have dealt with that better than the opposition and I felt that in both innings we didn’t deal with it as well as we should have done."

Read was greeted with a guard of honour from the Worcestershire players and umpires as he made his way out to bat for the final time at Trent Bridge on Day Three, and the Notts skipper confessed to feeling slightly embarrassed by the gesture. 

“It was unexpected but very much appreciated. It was a little bit embarrassing walking out but I was just desperate not to get out first ball, I’d have felt a prat, so it was nice to get going and sharing a decent partnership with Jake (Ball)."

Emotions ran high as Read came off the field for the final time but the wicket-keeper knows his job isn't yet done. 

“Had we been going out today and won the game I’d have perhaps been a little bit more emotional, knowing that the job was nearly done.

"As it is, we’ve put ourselves in a scrap for the last couple of matches, so it’s back to business as usual."

Looking back on his career at Trent Bridge, the captain has fond memories of his home ground for the past 20 years. 

“I’ve enjoyed every trophy we’ve won over the years but we’ve never picked one up here at Trent Bridge, so for me, every time I go out on the pitch I have had a great time.

"I’ll remember the dressing room more than anything and the players that have gone through there and the friends that I have made and the great time that I have had playing this sport.”

Resuming on 123 for two, Worcestershire still required a further 103 runs at the start of the day but neither batsman was unduly troubled as they advanced to their target in around 80 minutes of play.

On reaching 83, Mitchell became only the second player to reach 1,000 first class and championship runs for the season, following Kumar Sangakkara to that landmark.

He celebrated his century enthusiastically, by lofting Samit Patel for a couple of sixes over extra cover and he hit the same bowler for the winning runs to bring up Worcestershire’s first championship win at Trent Bridge since 2000.

The outcome ensured that Chris Read was denied the fairy-tale ending to his Trent Bridge career.

Having received a standing ovation and a guard of honour as he made his way out to bat on the third day, the 39-year old, who retires at the end of the season, was warmly applauded from the field by players and officials from both sides.

Worcestershire claim 20 points for the victory, closing the gap on Division Two leaders Nottinghamshire to just 15 points; with both counties having just two matches remaining.