DURHAM failed by one run to gain a fourth batting point, which they had looked uncertain about pursuing as they also wanted to build as big a total as possible for Steve Harmison to bowl at.

In trying to score that run Liam Plunkett fell to the final ball of the 120th over to make it 349 for eight and Durham were all out for 356, giving Nottinghamshire three overs to face before lunch. They reached one without loss.

Harmison was on his way from Lord’s after being left out of the Test team, but was not expected until early afternoon.

The man nominated in advance to stand down, Mitch Claydon, failed to make the most of his opportunity as nightwatchman.

His presence could have worked in Durham’s favour as Harmison has made five ducks this season and Claydon is a powerful striker. He was given licence to go for his shots but after prodding and poking for three overs he edged Andre Adams to Chris Read.

Ian Blackwell and Phil Mustard kept Durham in the hunt for four batting points, for which they had to reach 350 inside 120 overs.

Blackwell hit seven fours in his 45-ball stay, scoring 38 of the day’s first 59 runs before edging a drive to third slip in Ryan Sidebottom’s first over of the day.

The total was then 316 for seven in the 113th over, and with Plunkett needing to settle in against some excellent bowling from Sidebottom the chances of the fourth point looked slim.

As the left-armer tried to keep things tight he was clearly not amused by a misfield by Samit Patel, nor could he have been impressed by skipper Read keeping Charlie Shreck going at the other end.

When Sidebottom bowled a maiden in the 117th over, with Plunkett surviving two big appeals for lbw, Durham needed 22 off three overs.

They took 13 off the next from Shreck, who had none for 112 when he was finally replaced by Mark Ealham for the 120th over to ironic cheers from the locals.

Durham needed three off the over and Plunkett took a single of the third ball and Mustard one off the fifth. The last ball was a slow bouncer, which Plunkett did well to reach but only succeeded in directing a tennis-style shot into the hands of Mark Wagh at mid-wicket.

Sidebottom wrapped up the innings by having Mustard caught behind for 40 and Callum Thorp lbw for five.