Shafayat's century came off 172 balls

Bilal Shafayat's century was the highlight of the third day of the top-of-the-table County Championship clash between Nottinghamshire and Durham.

The opener scored his first championship ton since returning to his original county before going for 100.

Mark Ealham and Darren Pattinson's ninth-wicket stand of 69 helped to secure a two-run first innings lead.

Durham's Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Mark Stoneman crawled to 72-2 at close of play - giving them a lead of 70.

It sets up an intriguing final day between the two title rivals, although a draw seems the most likely result on a slow wicket.

Durham slipped to 45-2 in their second innings with makeshift opener Paul Wiseman and Will Smith going early.

But Chanderpaul and Stoneman were taking no chances as they saw off the final 25 overs without further loss of wicket.

Stoneman took 144 balls to score his 34, while Chanderpaul added just seven runs from 75 deliveries.

Durham had looked set for a first innings lead before Shafayat's seventh first-class hundred.

It came in his fourth match back in the first-team fold, following his return from Northamptonshire last summer.

The 24-year-old ex-England Under-19s captain showed how much it all meant to him too when he kissed the turf after reaching his hundred.

But he failed to add another run and four wickets fell for 22 runs as they stumbled to 199-8, before Ealham and Pattinson steadied the ship.