Durham complete massive win

It could have been over in one ball, but instead it lasted seven. In front of a crowd of about 30 spectators, it took Durham about four minutes to pick up the final Nottinghamshire wicket to claim victory over the only team that had looked likely challengers for the county championship title by an innings and 102 runs.

Steve Harmison bowled three balls to complete his over to the top scorer of the Nottinghamshire second innings, Mark Ealham. Ealham did not add to his 17, nor the bowler to his six wickets, for 20 runs, in the innings. This left one of county cricket's most renowned rabbits, Charlie Shreck, to face a full over of Ian Blackwell's left-arm spin, and the bookmakers would not have accepted bets on his chances of survival. Somehow he blocked two balls, before lashing out at the third and slicing a boundary to point. He exceeded himself again next ball, aiming a drive back over the bowler's head, but this time the natural order of cricket reasserted itself, as Callum Thorp ran from mid-on to take a good catch.

Nottinghamshire's total of 83 was their lowest against Durham. One hopes the home supporters who had to wend their weary way home again considered the rare spectacle of a boundary hit from local folk hero Shreck had made their time worthwhile, as they did not have to pay at the gates.

One of the most disappointing features of the Nottinghamshire batting was that all of their recognized batsmen made a start. They all scored a few runs, at least four, but only three reached double figures and none much more. Having made their start, most contributed softly to their own dismissals.

On their form in this match, it would appear that their role as Championship pretenders has been demolished. But one bad match, even one as bad as this, should not condemn a talented team - and the problem is almost entirely a batting one. The true measure of the Nottinghamshire team's worth will be clear in the next two or three weeks as they attempt to recover from this catastrophe and fight back. Surely they are too good a team to implode in this manner again.