Nottinghamshire Move Closer To Safety
Nottinghamshire have moved a step closer to safety in County Championship Division One after a comfortable win against Kent, who are one of the two teams that will fill the relegation slots this season.
The Vertu Motors-backed side were put in to bat first in what was very much a must win game for both teams, with openers Haseeb Hameed and Ben Slater immediately going on the attack.
The pair smashed 196 for the opening wicket before Hameed was bowled for 56, with Slater having survived a scare when he was dropped on 41.
After Hameed was dismissed, Freddie Clarke followed soon afterwards, with Joe Clarke reaching 18 before he was dismissed to leave the visitors on 271-3 at tea.
Slater eventually departed for an impressive 160 that included 22 boundaries, with Jack Haynes making 62 before he was fifth man out. Lydon James also departed before the close, with the score on 393-6 for Nottinghamshire very much in control.
Notts progressed to 433 before the innings drew to a close on the second morning, with losing a wicket in the first over of their reply when Ben Compton was trapped LBW by Luke Fletcher.
Fletcher then had Tawanda Muyeye caught for just ten before home captain Daniel Bell-Drummond was dismissed by Lyndon James with the score on 80.
That triggered a mini collapse as Jack Leaning and Joe Denly fell in double quick time to Rob Lord and it was only a spirited 76 from Joey Evison that allowed Kent to make it to 225 before being dismissed and forced to follow on – with youngster Farhan Ahmed taking four wickets.
Reaching 85-0 by the close, Kent then lost wickets at regular intervals on the third day, with Jacob Duffy the pick of the bowlers with a four wicket haul.
A ten wicket win was duly confirmed as Slater and Hameed quickly picked off the 28 runs needed as Notts secured victory meaning they will stay up if they avoid defeat in the final round of fixtures.