Nottinghamshire pulled off a remarkable victory to move to the top of the Specsavers County Championship Division One table.
After the first two days of their match against Worcestershire, at Blackfinch New Road, had been lost to the weather, the visitors turned in an inspired performance to defeat their hosts in only five sessions of cricket.
Batting for a second time, 190 adrift, Worcestershire were dismissed for 149 in only 38.2 overs. Jake Ball’s productive start to the season continued, returning figures of 5-59 as the home county fell before tea.
Earlier, Notts had declared their first innings closed on 300-9, after adding 96 runs in the first 65 minutes of the day.
Ross Taylor’s 50 remained the top score in the innings, with Tom Moores making 43 and Stuart Broad, 38. Josh Tongue was the pick of the hosts’ attack, claiming 4-81.
Play began on time under grey skies, with Notts on 204-6 in their first innings, an overall advantage of 94.
The first run of the day came from an overthrow, an appropriate beginning for a session that contained just about everything.
Tom Moores and Stuart Broad made their intentions very clear, rattling along to bring up a second batting point in very quick time.
Moores walloped Joe Leach for a huge six over mid-wicket and went past his previous first class best before falling for 43 to a catch at the wicket off Josh Tongue.
Broad’s progress was halted with a mid-pitch collision with his next batting partner, Luke Fletcher. With both players ball-watching they ran into each other and the England international had to receive treatment, such was the impact.
Happily recovered, the left-hander then ensured a waist-high delivery from Travis Head produced an eight – as he pulled the no-ball over the deep square leg ropes.
Head gained his revenge as Broad departed for 38, skying up and down into the gloves of the ‘keeper.
Ball failed to score, leaving Luke Fletcher (27 not out) and Harry Gurney 1( not out) to bring up the 300 and the declaration.
Notts made continued good proress in the 45 minutes before lunch. Brett D’Oliveira fell for a golden duck in Ball’s opening over, with Ross Taylor clutching the third slip offering.
Daryl Mitchell (3) lost his off stick to the same bowler before Broad had the highly-rated Joe Clarke (4) caught low down by Moores.
Travis Head (29) looked in good order, as he helped himself to three boundaries in one Fletcher over, but he became Ball’s third victim, falling lbw for the second time in the match.
Fletcher, who took five wickets during Worcestershire’s first innings, grabbed a couple more to speed up the outcome. George Rhodes (8) was caught behind and then Ben Cox (11) spooned a leading edge to Jake Libby at backward point.
Gurney got in on the act, for the first time in the match, when Fell (37) failed to protect his off stump.
Ball claimed his fourth and fifth victims of the day, having both Leach (6) and Barnard (12) caught behind, leaving Gurney to strike the match-wining blow by bowling Tongue (21).
Nottinghamshire take 22 points from the fixture and sit pretty at the top of the table ahead of their first home match of the season, Friday’s visit to Trent Bridge of Hampshire.
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