COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Emirates Ground:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Durham 372 & 279-5, Nottinghamshire 343
Durham 7pts, Notts 6pts
Match scorecard

Muchall faced 141 balls for his 111, hitting 17 fours

Durham's Gordon Muchall hit a century to ensure that County Championship leaders Nottinghamshire will face a big final day target at Chester-le-Street.

Muchall (111), Dale Benkenstein (58) and Ian Blackwell (50 not out) helped the hosts to 279-5, a lead of 308.

Earlier, the Notts tail wagged to ensure that the visitors got close to first-innings parity.

Paul Franks (26), Luke Fletcher (23 not out) and Darren Pattinson (19) carried Notts to 343 all out, a deficit of 29.

Notts had resumed on 257-6 with Pattinson at the crease after replacing Ryan Sidebottom, who was retired out in order to join up with the England one-day squad.

He added 37 for the last wicket with Fletcher and Notts may have scented the chance of victory when Adams struck twice to reduce Durham to 35-2.

But after Pattinson limped out of the attack with an ankle injury, Notts wilted in the afternoon sun as Muchall and Benkenstein added 144 for the third wicket.

Samit Patel (3-75) dragged them back into contention by first having Benkenstein stumped and then forcing Ben Harmison to play on.

Muchall combined with Blackwell for a fifth-wicket stand of 51 and brought up his century by cutting Paul Franks for four before being given out lbw attempting to sweep Patel.

606: DEBATE If Notts don't bowl us out in the first session Mustard will have a tricky decision to make captaincolly

Captain Phil Mustard joined Blackwell to see Durham to the close and will weigh up a declaration tomorrow.

His decision may be influenced by the absence of seamer Mark Davies, who will take no further part because of a sciatic nerve problem.

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