Durham set to retain Championship

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE, Riverside:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY THREE: Durham 648-5 dec, Notts 384 and 52-2 (Durham 8pts, Notts 5pt)
9-12 September 2009

Live commentary

Match scorecard

Liam Plunkett took six wickets in an innings for the second time this season

Durham are less than a day away from receiving the Championship trophy again after setting up an expected eighth win of the season at the Riverside.

Chasing the home side's record-breaking 648-5dec, Nottinghamshire fell short of reaching the follow-on target, going from 65-2 overnight to 384 all out.

The wickets were shared between Liam Plunkett (6-85) and Mark Davies (4-87).

Second time around, Notts are on 52-2, still needing another 212 runs to make Durham bat again.

And, although Notts could yet bat all day and avoid defeat, the Durham champagne is still on ice.

Barring a miraculous Notts fightback, assuming that Durham do claim the final three points they need to retain their title some time on Saturday afternoon, they will be presented with the trophy.

And another big crowd is expected on the final day to see it.

Around 4,500 people attended Friday's third day, taking advantage of free admission. And Saturday's punters will have the pleasure of seeing their team being presented with the Championship trophy.

Initially, the curious plan hatched by the England and Wales Cricket Board and Championship sponsors Liverpool Victoria was for the trophy to be presented when England play Australia at the Riverside in the last of the seven one-day internationals next Sunday.

But they have been forced to back down and allow any presentation to take place on Saturday.

BBC Newcastle's Martin Emmerson gives his verdict on the day's play:

"Durham's dominance of this match has been total. And tomorrow they have 96 overs in which to claim the final eight Nottinghamshire wickets.

"Even if the game ends in a draw Durham have got more than the bonus points they needed from this and the title will be theirs.

"Credit to Notts for their rearguard action in the first innings.

"There was bravery as Chris Read scored 65, two days after dislocating his thumb, while Mark Ealham hit 49 despite his injuries.

"And Charlie Shreck even managed to hobble onto the pitch at the end with his one good knee to see off three balls when we'd been told he would not play again.

"He's spent the last two days on crutches."