Lyndon James led the way with a masterful century as Nottinghamshire enjoyed a dominant third day against Durham to set up a realistic prospect of a final-day victory at Trent Bridge.

Almost precisely three years to the day that he struck his maiden First-Class ton against the same opposition, the all-rounder made 125 to lead the hosts to 579 all out at tea on the third day, leading by 201.

Matt Montgomery and Josh Tongue also hit half-centuries, the latter doing so on his first visit to the crease as a Nottinghamshire player, to underpin their mammoth total and subsequent chasmic advantage.

Fergus O’Neill then claimed two wickets to add to his first-innings five-for as the visitors were reduced to 112-3 in their second dig at stumps, still trailing by 89.

James had arrived at the crease early on the third morning following the dismissal of nightwatcher Farhan Ahmed, and he moved through the gears from that point on.

With Notts inching towards Durham’s total of 378 at the time of James’ entry to the fray, he and Montgomery proceeded to steer the hosts comfortably past parity and to three batting bonus points.

Both went to their fifties with boundaries off spinner George Drissell before the lunch break in quick succession; Montgomery first in 114 balls, before James followed in just 54.

The 26-year-old continued his fluency even after his 118-run seventh-wicket alliance with Montgomery had been ended by the latter being bowled by Matthew Potts for 75, partnering Tongue to add a further 94 for the ninth wicket.

Tongue, with a previous First-Class average of 12.80, crowned his first batting effort as a Nottinghamshire player with a sparkling maiden fifty that included eight fours.

However, he was very much in the support role to the genius of James, and even after Tongue had fallen lbw to Will Rhodes, James continued to drive the hosts forward with last man Dillon Pennington for company.

Pennington, who ended unbeaten on 15, anchored one end with enough authority to allow James to reach three figures just before the tea break.

The Worksop-born man did so in 135 balls, with his 14th four of the innings off Rhodes, and promptly turned to both salute the dressing room balcony and raise his bat to the Trent Bridge faithful.

He was eventually last out on the stroke of tea, but not before he had ensured the home advantage stood at more than 200, enough for opening bowlers Pennington and O’Neill to charge in at full steam.

O’Neill took full advantage of being given licence to do so, claiming two wickets in the space of three balls in his fourth over, as Alex Lees was pinned lbw before Emilio Gay was bowled for a duck, handing him a pair in the match.

First-innings centurion Colin Ackermann and England Under-19 international Ben McKinney held things up with a stand of 71, only for Tongue to have the latter caught behind by Joe Clarke for 37 to provide Notts with a priceless late boost.

Ackermann and Ollie Robinson were able to survive the remaining six-and-a-half overs from Tongue and Ahmed, but with Durham still almost 100 runs in arrears, the hosts will be positive about prospects of victory on the final day of the season opener.

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