Weariness disrupts Kumble's calm

Nottinghamshire 527 Northamptonshire 149-0

Injuries, weariness and frustration are the major barriers to Northamptonshire climbing their own Everest and winning the County Championship for the first time, together with the NatWest Trophy.

With fast bowler Paul Taylor suffering from groin trouble and Anil Kumble braving a sore big toe, having bowled 710 Championship overs, they are threatened with a tattered army at Lord's next Saturday.

They missed six chances as Nottinghamshire made their highest score at Wantage Road. Fielding for five sessions does not carry the hallmark of possible champions, though Northamptonshire dusted themselves down and made inroads through Alan Fordham and Richard Montgomerie.

Even Kumble, innately calm, kicked the ground in disappointment, more at his own lack of control than fielding lapses. He was deprived of five wickets in an innings for the seventh time this summer when Russell Warren failed to stump Bobby Chapman.

Tony Penberthy dropped Andy Pick at second slip and Warren failed to put a glove on two chances, compounding the other lapses. Three wickets tumbled in the first 35 minutes.

Kumble reached 86 wickets, Kevin Curran was warned about intimidatory bowling but the partnership of 294 in 81 overs between Robinson and Graeme Archer had emphasised that Northamptonshire are lagging behind Middlesex, the leaders, and Warwickshire. Nottinghamshire have lost to both in their previous two games.