DURHAM managed to prolong proceedings until tea-time yesterday, which at least pleased the ice cream man on the Riverside's best day of the summer.

But there was never any suggestion that things would last any longer as they subsided gently to their sixth defeat in ten championship matches, losing by eight wickets to Nottinghamshire.

The visitors were just above Durham at the foot of the table a month ago, but since taking the brave decision to sack Clive Rice as Director of Cricket they have won three successive matches.

Winning the toss may have helped the visitors, but for the first time for several years, they looked a much better team than a Durham side very short of batting.

There were a number of useful contributions as Durham made 328 in their second innings, but nothing substantial enough to compensate for the first-innings debacle.

Nottinghamshire's victory target was only 83 and losing wickets on 28 and 43 were minor hiccups as they got there in 20.4 overs.

Durham gave Brad Hodge's off breaks an airing at the death and after bowling a maiden which included a big shout for lbw, he was hit for consecutive fours by Guy Welton to finish the match.

The lack of depth in Durham's batting meant any hope of completing the second day's turnaround vanished when Hodge fell in the day's fourth over.

A ball from Greg Smith which bounced steeply took the edge and was held by Nicky Boje at second slip to see off the Victorian for 44.

For a newcomer to county cricket thrust into a struggling side, Hodge had done very well and received a warm hand from the fans. He gave every indication that he will give them much more to applaud once he settles in.

Three overs later Marc Symington was lbw to Andrew Harris, whose four wickets were deserved as he showed he is back to the form which earned him an England A tour before injury blighted his career.

Other than his contributions of 41 not out and 42 to big scores at Lord's and Northampton, Symington has totalled 60 runs in seven innings.

He would not have played in this match had Nicky Peng been fit, but was preferred to Michael Gough, who has made runs in the second team recently.

"Marc has acquitted himself well and we felt he deserved another chance," said coach Martyn Moxon. "We are trying to get some continuity in selection and work to plans.

"We might have looked short of batting in this match, but of equal concern is that we are not bowling consistently well. As a unit Notts bowled better than we did."

Paul Collingwood had looked in good form from the outset, but it was difficult to know where the support was going to come from as Andrew Pratt continued to look totally out of sorts.

The lack of foot movement as he played away from his body outside off stump meant an edge was inevitable and after being dropped by Kevin Pietersen at third slip off Smith, the same fielder accepted a more difficult chance four balls later.

Perhaps Durham should rig up a loud speaker to ring out the chimes of Big Ben at high noon, so often does it prove to be a dangerous time for their batsmen at the Riverside.

Pratt went right on cue and in the next over Collingwood shaped to punch Harris away off the back foot and gave Pietersen another catch at third slip.

Although dropped at second slip on ten, Danny Law again underlined his claim to bat above Symington and Pratt. He made a good championship hundred on this ground last season, but how can he be expected to build such an innings when Nicky Phillips is next man in?

When Phillips lost his leg stump second ball to Harris, three wickets had gone down on 237 and it seemed the match would be over before lunch.

As the sublime weather had brought the season's first sighting of young ladies in summer gear, sipping their drinks outside the hospitality boxes, it would not have been good for business had the clatter of wickets continued.

Fortunately Mark Davies provided plucky company for Law in a stand of 53. But Law departed for 36 shortly before lunch when he edged Boje's left-arm spin to slip.

Straight after lunch Neil Killeen edged Boje between wicketkeeper and slip and went on to contribute 18 to a stand of 31 before falling to the fifth ball with the new ball when he edged to the wicketkeeper.

Davies' occasional habit of exploring beyond the realms of the textbook brought the innings to a close when he swotted a catch to extra cover.

Along with Gordon Muchall, Davies has been the find of the summer for Durham. If he cuts out the moments of madness he could make a useful No 8 and bring more solidity to a depressingly fragile tail.

l Durham expect to have Nicky Peng back after injury for tomorrow's National League division one match against Nottinghamshire at the Riverside.

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