Round-up: Pattinson shines but rain spoils hosts' day

Nottinghamshire have already made a clear statement of credibility in the race to challenge Durham's grip on the Championship by winning their first three matches and a victory over the title-holders at Trent Bridge this week would only provide added emphasis.

Yet while the rest of the country escaped largely unscathed they were frustrated by the weather yesterday. There was no downpour over Nottingham but a combination of drizzle and bad light limited play to 27.2 overs.

It was probably to Durham's relief given that they lost three wickets in the first dozen of those after Nottinghamshire put them in and unleashed Darren Pattinson and Charlie Shreck to exploit the conditions.

They lost Kyle Coetzer when Paul Franks took an excellent catch low to his left at mid-off from the bowling of Shreck, who dismissed Will Smith when the Durham captain pushed tentatively at a ball outside off stump. In between, Pattinson had Michael di Venuto caught at gully. Ian Blackwell had an escape on 10 when he almost played on to Shreck but he and Dale Benkenstein settled to add 43 for the fourth wicket.

Joe Denly faced only three deliveries before he was caught off Chris Wright but a superb 135 for Geraint Jones put Kent in a strong position against Essex at Chelmsford. Jones reached his hundred off 140 balls with 17 fours and shared a stand of 137 with Martin van Jaarsveld before edging to slip off part-time off-spinner Tom Westley.

There was a half-century too for Sam Northeast, while Danish Kaneria, the Pakistan leg-spinner who is likely to be questioned over match-rigging allegations now he has returned to England, claimed the wicket of James Hockley.

Nic Pothas hit three sixes off Somerset's spin bowlers as well as a dozen fours as he and Sean Ervine rescued Hampshire from 123-5 after choosing to bat first at the Rose Bowl, the pair adding 158 after Charl Willoughby had taken three of the first four wickets. Ervine is unbeaten on 75 overnight.