KEATON Jennings kept Durham afloat when Nottinghamshire threatened to inflict a two-day defeat at Emirates Riverside.

Following an unlikely innings of 92 by nightwatchman Luke Fletcher, the visitors built a first innings lead of 143 then reduced Durham to 24 for three.

Helped by Paul Collingwood, who made 40 in a stand of 71, then Paul Coughlin, Jennings stood firm to reach 62 as Durham closed on 162 for five.

Facing a marathon final session of 47 overs, Durham lost Stephen Cook to the sixth ball, edging Jake Ball to Riki Wessels. Two overs later another excellent ball had Jack Burnham caught behind.

Michael Richardson shuffled into a Fletcher in-swinger to bring in Collingwood, who was going well until Australian Test bowler James Pattinson returned for a second spell.

After reacting with disbelief when his prolonged lbw appeal was turned down off his first ball, Pattinson worked up a fiery pace and was rewarded by a sensational catch from Wessels.

The ball was travelling like a bullet when he leapt to cling on left-handed high above his head at first slip.

When Nottinghamshire briefly turned to the spin of Samit Patel, Jennings repeated the stroke which took him to his debut Test century in India.

The reverse paddle to the long leg boundary was followed by a lofted straight four, while the left-hander had several well-timed cuts among his ten boundaries.

Coughlin batted confidently, striking seven fours in making 36 off 37 balls, before Pattinson returned to administer another short, sharp shock.

Coughlin shaped to turn a full ball to leg and was lbw, leaving Ryan Pringle to survive the final six overs.