A late eighth-wicket partnership frustrated Nottinghamshire’s attempts to claim a three-day victory against Derbyshire, but the Green and Golds still hold an advantage in the East Midlands clash at Trent Bridge.
James Pattinson hit a breezy 21 from 13 balls as Notts, resuming on 334/7, were eventually dismissed for 358, handing them a first-innings lead of 98.
Overseas pace duo Pattinson and Dane Paterson then took three scalps each in Derbyshire’s second innings as the visitors collapsed to 138/6, but a stubborn stand of 90 between Alex Hughes and Liam Hurt, both of whom made 49, saw them to 262 all out.
That left Notts requiring 165 in their second innings for victory, and they closed on */* after the two overs of their innings which were possible in the last knockings of the day.
Earlier, more cloud cover had greeted the local rivals at the start of play, but Pattinson scorned any theoretical bowling advantage by caressing two fours off the opening five balls to continue a belligerent knock.
It was Liam Patterson-White who did succumb, however, as Nick Potts found movement to pin the spinner lbw for 39 just nine balls into the day.
A brief cameo from Stuart Broad followed, before he was bowled by Sam Conners, after which Pattinson hammered six before being caught on the midwicket boundary to bring the hosts’ innings to a close.
Shan Masood entered the second innings still in with a chance of becoming the first batter to hit 1,000 runs before the end of May since Graeme Hick in 1988, but saw those hopes quickly dashed as he was pinned lbw by Broad for a three-ball duck.
A probing spell from first change bowler Paterson then brought about the wicket of Guest, who was hit on the back pad in front of middle stump for 23, to leave the visitors 44/2 at lunch and still 54 in arrears.
They had not yet reached parity when the third wicket went down, as Paterson struck again to tempt captain Billy Godleman into a pull that sub fielder Calvin Harrison pouched at long leg.
Wayne Madsen, who top-scored in the innings with 52, and Leus du Plooy steered Derbyshire back into the lead, before the latter was trapped lbw by Lyndon James, and Luis Reece then followed just six balls later, caught behind off Pattinson.
Right on the stroke of tea, Madsen then became the third batter to fall in the space of five overs as he became James’ second victim, and Patterson-White then capitalised to take the innings’ seventh as he trapped Alex Thomson in front.
The innings had reached a perilous juncture for the visitors, who still had a lead of only 63, but they were rescued by the stand between Hurt and Hughes, who steered them beyond 250 in 24 resistant overs.
As the shadows lengthened, Pattinson’s toil finally bore fruit as he had Hurt caught low by Moores, and that opened the door for the hosts, with the final two scalps, both bowled, picked up by Pattinson and Paterson, respectively.
The final two overs were smoothly negotiated by openers Ben Slater and Haseeb Hameed, and Notts will now look to the final day as they hunt victory.
*******
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