COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Trent Bridge:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Durham 356 Nottinghamshire 171 (Durham 7pts, Notts 3pt)
15 - 18 July 2009

Blackwell hits out during his 45-ball innings at Trent Bridge

Ian Blackwell hit 38 and claimed three wickets as Durham took charge against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Resuming day two on 257-5, Blackwell and Phil Mustard (40) played key roles with the bat to help Durham reach 356 as Ryan Sidebottom (4-65) impressed.

Steve Harmison, released by England, struck an early blow in Notts' reply by removing Matthew Wood.

Chris Read hit 48 but could not prevent Liam Plunkett (4-56) and Blackwell (3-6) bowling the hosts out for 171.

That gave Durham a first innings lead of 185 and although they opted to enforce the follow-on, they were unable to bowl another ball before the close because of bad light.

Nevertheless, it was still an excellent day's work for the champions, who added 99 to their overnight score to pick up four bonus batting points.

They lost nightwatchman Mitch Claydon to Andre Adams early on, before Blackwell and Mustard added 57 for the seventh wicket.

Their partnership was ended by the introduction of Sidebottom, the England left-armer enticing Blackwell to edge to Adams at third slip.

And after Mustard and Plunkett had led Durham to 348-7, three wickets fell in double-quick time to complete the innings.

First Plunkett was caught hooking Mark Ealham, before Sidebottom accounted for both Mustard and Callum Thorp.

Harmison took the field after lunch following his arrival from Lord's, and produced a hostile first spell.

He conceded only one run from his opening eight overs and picked up the wicket of Wood, who could only glove a rising delivery to short leg.

Mark Wagh, Samit Patel and David Hussey all played loose drives - the latter two both at Plunkett - to be caught behind as Notts plunged to 54-5, before Read and Ally Brown tried to mount a recovery.

But Blackwell accounted for both, bowling Brown through the gate for 36 before having Read adjudged lbw by umpire Peter Hartley when the ball appeared to strike him outside off stump.

Plunkett and Blackwell then wrapped up the final three wickets for only 11 runs as Durham tightened their grip at the top of the table.

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