Nottinghamshire victory hopes tempered by rain

After most of the first day had been lost to the weather, Notts made good progress to reach 306 for three off 87 overs in their first innings. But a combination of rain and bad light returned to wipe out the whole of the post-tea session after Usman Afzaal hit a sparkling 91 not out off just 139 balls with 15 fours and a six.

Notts resumed on 56 for one anxious to make up for lost time and both Guy Welton and Darren Bicknell were quickly into their stride on a good, but slow, batting wicket.

Both batsmen punished any loose deliveries and the total had moved on to 121 in the 41st over before Durham made their first breakthrough of the day when Bicknell (54) played down the wrong line to a good-length ball from Marc Symington and was trapped leg before.

The second-wicket stand was worth 109 with Bicknell scoring his runs off 104 balls and hitting eight boundaries. Afzaal joined forces with Welton and the pair advanced Notts' total to 189 for two from 55 overs at lunch, but only four runs had been added and Welton had failed to add to his lunch score of 77 when he was run out after an unfortunate mix-up with Afzaal. Welton faced 168 balls, hitting 13 fours and a six.

Despite this setback, Notts continued to make smooth progress with Afzaal taking up the attack, hammering successive balls from Ian Hunter to the long-on boundary and then lofting a short-pitched delivery for six over the deep mid-wicket fence.

Afzaal and Bilal Shafayat (46 not out) continued to dish out heavy punishment to a toiling Durham attack and their unbroken fourth-wicket stand was worth 113 when the heavens opened with the tea interval imminent.

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