Notts set up incredible victory against Worcestershire

Nottinghamshire go into the fourth day needing only 91 to reach their highest-ever winning total in a fourth innings.

Set 458 to beat Worcestershire, they exceeded all expectations by reaching 367 for 2 after a launch-pad of 94 in 106 balls by John Morris, a century by Darren Bicknell and an unbeaten 99 from Greg Blewett.

Notts have never made more then 419 to win a match - a target achieved against Leicestershire in 1926 - but it would now be a surprise if they failed to register their first CricInfo Championship win of the season.

Morris gave them the impetus with a trail-blazing innings of 18 boundaries but the former Derbyshire and Durham batsman missed a deserved century when Stuart Lampitt held a stunning catch at short extra cover.

Worcestershire's relief at breaking up a stand of 157 was quickly snuffed out when Bicknell reached 104 while putting on 102 for the second wicket with Blewett.

The left handed opener was caught behind off Lampitt when Notts required 199 and this whittled down as Usman Afzaal settled into the third century partnership. Blewett will have to wait until the morning to complete his third hundred of the season as he closed with 12 fours from 179 balls.

Worcestershire's front-line seamers bowled too many bad balls on a pitch which had become totally docile after the loss of 20 wickets on the first day. Even worse they lacked a specialist spinner in the absence of the injured Matt Rawnsley.

In all nine bowlers were used in what became an increasingly forlorn attempt to turn Philip Weston's 192 into a match winning innings. The opener was ninth out in the morning when Andrew Harris took the last two wickets in five balls.