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Cricket

Nottinghamshire letting title chance slip

25/09/2008

Nottinghamshire are set to face a daunting run chase against Hampshire if they are to be crowned County Championship Division One champions.

Hampshire have already established a 94-run lead with the loss of only one wicket in their second innings as they finished the day on 102/1. Michael Brown hit an unbeaten half century to frustrate Nottinghamshire.

The day started with Hampshire batting as they had one wicket left in their first innings. They were all out for 203, which meant they just about got a batting point.

Nottinghamshire would have hoped to take advantage of batting at their home ground Trent Bridge, by building a big first innings lead – but that was not to be the case. England star Samit Patel (70) and South African batsman Ashwell Prince (50) were the only contributors as Notts were skittled out for 211.

Hampshire leg-spinner Imran Tahir ripped the heart out of the Nottinghamshire batting as he removed the last three batsmen for ducks.

If league leaders Nottinghamshire were to slip-up, then both Durham and Somerset could clinch the Division One title.

Australian Michael Di Venuto hit a classy 90 and Will Smith added 81 as Durham ended the day on 289/6 in their second innings against Kent – which means they have a slender 64-run lead. Durham will now look to Tim Mustard to conjure up some late innings fireworks to guide them to a competitive total.

Somerset are also in a strong position to claim the victory they need against Lancashire at Taunton. They are 66/2 in their second innings, which means they have a lead of 24 runs. But crucially Somerset have lost key duo Justin Langer and Marcus Trescothick.

Elsewhere, Warwickshire have been confirmed as Division Two champions after they collected the batting points they needed to secure the title against Glamorgan at Edgbaston.