Haseeb Hameed struck a scintillating century on the final day of Nottinghamshire’s pre-season friendly against Loughborough UCCE before the visitors stubbornly saw off 36 overs to share the spoils of a well fought contest at Trent Bridge.
The opener’s hundred was supplemented by a 72-delivery 77 from Ben Duckett, and an unbeaten fifty for Lyndon James, as the hosts pressed forward their overnight advantage before declaring with a lead of 526.
University batters Ben Chapman-Lilley, James Macgregor and Notts’ Matthew Montgomery negotiated the best part of two sessions, however, with a solitary wicket for Joey Evison Notts’ eventual return on a batting-friendly surface.
Resuming day three 256 runs ahead, Hameed and Duckett added 78, the latter producing a plethora of pearling drives before he was smartly caught by Montgomery running to leg slip as the left-hander attempted to paddle Don Butchart around the corner.
The task of extending the lead was one well seen to by Joe Clarke, who batted with poise and elegance - twice pulling Moazzam Rizvi over the square leg boundary for six.
He was later caught slapping a wide delivery to Butchart off Rizvi for 48, but not before Hameed could reach his three figures - a landmark reached with a tuck to the leg side and subsequent retirement.
It was an innings of increasing tempo as it progressed, and included no fewer than 12 fours and two sixes in 120 deliveries.
Tom Moores was the last batter to depart for an equally well made 36, with Lyndon James afforded the opportunity to raise his bat before Hameed called his men in.
Loughborough went about the challenge of resisting the Nottinghamshire charge commendably, however, and a 73-run, near 18-over opening stand between Chapman-Lilley and Joe MacGregor put paid to any realistic chances of a victory for the home side.
When Joey Evison induced the latter to chop on for 39, Montgomery (39*) and Chapman-Lilley (62*) repelled the best efforts of Notts’ bowling contingent, including James Hayes and Liam Patterson-White who sent down their first spells of the match.
Nottinghamshire agreed to shake hands with the visitors with nine overs of the day remaining, ahead of their second pre-season clash of the season, a two-day fixture against Warwickshire at Trent Bridge starting on Saturday.