Struggling duo left frustrated as no play possible

Bad light was also a factor in the match being abandoned for the day at 5pm without a ball bowled.

Hampshire, bottom of the table and without a win in their first 10 fixtures, renewed hopes of survival by surprise wins over Durham and Warwickshire.

Second-from-bottom Worcestershire are still 21 points above Hampshire but approached this fixture on the back of a heavy defeat by Lancashire.

Durham’s hopes of claiming the County Championship title were dented as half-centuries from Nottinghamshire’s Riki Wessels and Andre Adams left the visitors chasing a tough target for victory.

In a fast-moving match, 18 wickets fell on day two at Trent Bridge as batsmen failed to cope with a pitch offering plenty of assistance for seamers and the occasional uneven bounce.

Second-placed Durham, resuming their first innings on 44-3, were bundled out for 195, Ian Blackwell top-scoring with 52 from 54 balls before he was caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Graeme White, who finished with a career-best 3-17.

That left the visitors 75 behind and despite 5-54 from Mitch Claydon, Wessels’s rapid 84 from 68 balls and an unbeaten 53 from Adams left Durham chasing 321 to win.

The second delivery of the morning saw Paul Collingwood’s push at Adams’s loosener edged to third slip.

Dale Benkenstein and Ian Blackwell appeared to be on top of the conditions as they added 91 for the fifth wicket. The partnership ended when Fletcher had Benkenstein caught at second slip for 49.

The introduction of White just before lunch proved too tempting for Blackwell, who was brilliantly caught and bowled. Durham then lost their last four wickets inside six overs with Adams and White sharing two wickets apiece.

Notts openers Alex Hales and Karl Turner both played loose attacking shots to be caught behind, but Wessels showed better technique with 14 fours on both sides of the wicket and a straight six to extend the hosts’ lead.

He lost Darren Bravo with a poorly executed drive to mid-off, while Steven Mullaney edged Mark Wood to second slip on the eve of tea, with the young seamer removing Wessels at the start of the evening session.

Claydon removed Paul Franks, White and Chris Read in four overs before Adams launched his assault. Darren Pattinson was eventually bowled by Ruel Brathwaite, with Fletcher last to fall as Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 245.

There was time for opener Will Smith to fall lbw to Fletcher as Durham closed on 20-1, requiring another 301 for victory.