Blewett and Morris carry Notts to seven-wicket victory

Notts duly completed a seven wicket victory over Derbyshire 45 minutes into the final day. Needing a further 48 runs to win they reached their goal without any undue problems, collecting 18 points for their efforts.

Resuming from their overnight score of 172-3 Notts' batsmen Greg Blewett and John Morris picked off runs with ease. Rob Bailey bowled an over of off spin to begin the day, but saw very little turn as Morris drove a well-executed boundary.

Seamers Graeme Welch and Kevin Dean then operated in tandem but Blewett continued to caress the ball to the ropes whilst his partner contributed another couple of hefty clouts.

Successive boundaries off Welch took the Australian from 90 to 98 in the ninth over of the morning. Lian Wharton was then introduced into the attack and Blewett lifted him over the legside ring to collect his fifth Championship century of the season (211 mins 181 balls 19x4's). That took Notts to within two runs of victory.

Successive maidens delayed the inevitable before Morris, a former Derbyshire player, of course, smote Wharton through the offside for a boundary which also brought up the 50 partnership. Blewett ended unbeaten on 106.

Too late for an unlikely push for one of the promotion places, the victory was the third of the season for Notts and the second in succession at Trent Bridge. Derbyshire remain bottom of Division Two.