Despite being able to make Somerset follow-on Notts were unable to press home their advantage as the LV= County Championship match at Taunton petered out into a draw.
Batting for a second time, the hosts had reached 141 for two, only 49 behind, when heavy rain flooded the outfield and wiped out the final session.
Mick Newell acknowledged that his side couldn’t have done much, given the adverse weather forecast. “We haven’t exactly gained much out of today’s cricket,” he said.
“Given that we’d already secured as many bonus points as we could but I’m very pleased with the way it’s gone here.”
Notts did miss a chance to remove Marcus Trescothick early in Somerset’s second innings but the opportunity went begging. Newell concedes it probably didn’t make a lot of difference to the overall outcome.
“If we had of taken it there might have been chance to push home our advantage but realistically with such limited time and such a bad weather forecast there was little chance of bowling them out anyway,” he said.
“But you never want to drop someone like Marcus Trescothick if you can help it."
Notts wasted little time in wrapping up the Somerset first innings. With just the second ball of the day Samit Patel had Steve Kirby (4) caught at silly point by James Taylor.
Following on, 190 adrift, Trescothick and Nick Compton were again met with some accurate new ball bowling. Luke Fletcher’s initial burst was 6-5-2-0 with the only runs conceded coming from a no ball.
Wicketless in the first innings, Ajmal Shahzad entered the attack to bowl the 12th over and his second delivery should have changed his fortune. Trescothick, on 9, clipped a regulation edge to second slip but Patel spilled the offering.
Without Andre Adams, off the field protecting a slight hamstring concern, the Notts attack was unable to conjure up many opportunities as the pair of Test openers reached fifty in the 21st over.
Approaching lunch Chris Read turned to Steven Mullaney, to bowl some off spin. His fifth ball was clipped by Compton towards short leg. The ball appeared to rebound off James Taylor’s foot or protective pad and loop up for Chris Read to catch.
The batsman stood his ground as Notts celebrated but the deliberation of the umpires went in favour of Compton.
Notts did make the initial breakthrough soon after lunch as Gurney’s pace accounted for Trescothick (39) for the second time in the game, although the left-hander was partially culpable slashing a long way from his body and edging through to Read.
Shahzad was then able to celebrate a first scalp as Chris Jones (6) feathered another catch through to Read.
Compton’s half century arrived (135 balls 6x4) but there wasn’t time for much further progress as the heaviest of showers flooded the outfield during the tea interval, which had been taken early due to the impending downpour.
Notts are back in action this thursday with their Friends Life t20 Quarter-final against Essex Eagles at Trent Bridge.
Tickets for the Outlaws' Friends Life t20 quarter-final are now on general sale from our online box office.
Supporters can also visit the Trent Bridge ticket office or call the ticket hotline (0844 8118711) during office hours.
Friends Life t20 Quarter-Final Ticket information
Notts Outlaws v Essex Eagles, Thursday 8 August, 7.10pm CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS
Ticket prices:
Buy before 4.30pm on Wednesday 7 August:
Members - Adults £15 / Under 16s £8 / Over 65s £8
Non-members - Adults £17 / Under 16s £9 / Over 65s £9 / families (2+2) £43
On the day:
Adults £20 / Over 65s £20 / Under 16s £10 / Families (2+2) £50