County Championship round-up: Pattinson's fortunes tied up in Notts

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It has been a strange season for Darren Pattinson. In the Championship he has struggled, by his own standards, but his performances in Twenty20 drove Nottinghamshire to Finals' Day. He was promptly dropped, and the Trent Bridge side lost their semi-final to Hampshire.

Yesterday, as Nottinghamshire sought to take the decisive step towards the county title at the Riverside against Durham, Pattinson limped off after delivering his first ball. The Australian-raised seamer, brought into the game at the halfway stage as a replacement for England's Ryan Sidebottom, returned later, conceded 26 runs from two overs and was gone again.

Nottinghamshire's performance mirrored Pattinson's. In a game when they knew they could take a nigh-on decisive step towards the pennant, they have struggled and it will require a very generous declaration from the home side, who lead by 308 with five wickets standing, to set up victory today. Gordon Muchall played the standout innings for Durham, the current title holders, hitting 111 from 141 balls.

Nottinghamshire's frustrations will be as nothing compared to those of Kent, who were well beaten by Warwickshire at Edgbaston yesterday. In a match which should go a long way to deciding the second relegation place – Essex look all but down – Kent were beaten by 95 runs. They were undone by feeble batting: Kent recorded eight ducks in the match and, had it not been for a tremendous century from Martin van Jaarsveld, the defeat could have been far heavier.

Chris Woakes' medium pace and lower-order hitting was the difference between the sides. He took 11 wickets in a match for the first time and also contributed 81 with the bat to give his side victory after less than two hours' play on the third morning.

Hampshire are not yet safe and they travel to Canterbury next week. Thanks to a fine century by Jimmy Adams against Lancashire yesterday, though, they may go there in a very strong position. Adams is a naturally diffident character – he says he prefers life away from the spotlight – but this season he has become one of Hampshire's most important players: he was the Twenty20 Cup's top scorer.

Yesterday he hit an unbeaten 109. There is work to do – Hants lead by only 36 with five wickets left – but at least they have a chance of salvaging something.