Chris Read completed a three-wicket victory over Worcestershire late on the final day to take Nottinghamshire to the top of the table and complete a third successive win.
Read and Paul Franks had come together with still more than 50 needed and all but saw the side home, following on from another major contribution from Alex Hales, who scored 84.
"We knew that if we bowled Worcestershire out by lunch there would certainly be time for us to win." Mick Newell
Director of cricket was understandably delighted with the character shown by his side.
“It was a very good day for us,” he said.
“The players were quite confident coming in to the day and I like to hear that sort of positivity. We knew that if we bowled Worcestershire out by lunch there would certainly be time for us to win.”
Newell again paid tribute to the talents of Hales who has found solid form in the last two outings.
“I thought he played an excellent knock,” said Newell.
“That’s three eighties he’s had in the last two matches and today’s was a terrific performance. We needed to build partnerships and him and Samit and then him and Voges helped get us there.”
Despite the counter-attraction of the Royal wedding coverage, a healthy crowd was present as play began in chilly, overcast conditions with Kervezee and Andrew resuming their partnership.
Having withstood the home attack for 26 overs on the third evening the pair extended their stand to 135 before the centurion fell in extremely painful circumstances. A delivery from Franks ‘popped’ up onto the glove and ballooned sixty feet in the air before dropping calming to Edwards at gully.
The Dutch international was in obvious discomfort as he made his way off to a well-deserved ovation and he was soon followed by Andrew who fell to the same bowler for 67 – a thin edge carrying safely into the gloves of Read.
Notts took the second new ball as soon as it became due with Luke Fletcher tasked with blowing away the tail. He could have had an immediate reward but Franks spilled a mistimed hook from Cox at long leg.
Cox then had more good fortune when he edged the same bowler between third slip and gully for four. Notts had been held up for 48 minutes when Fletcher did get his man – a second routine catch for Read to send back the Worcestershire ‘keeper for 12. The lead at that stage was 228.
Damien Wright and Matt Mason put on another 21 before the latter had his stumps flattened by Andre Adams for the second time in the match.
Charlie Shreck had remained unused until 15 minutes before lunch but he bowled Wright for 33 with his second delivery.
Set 262 in 67 overs, the Notts openers added 9-0 from a tricky 2-over period before lunch.
In much brighter conditions, the early part of the afternoon session saw Alan Richardson strike twice as Neil Edwards went to a catch at the wicket for 17 and Wagh was trapped in front for 12.
Samit Patel joined Alex Hales and the pair punctured the field repeatedly in a stand of 53. Richardson then struck for the eighth time in the match by getting Patel caught behind for 29.
Hales monopolised the scoring and brought up a classy fifty with a sublime straight drive for four off Andrew. At tea Notts were 136-3, requiring a further 126 for victory.
Adam Voges joined his junior partner in striking a succession of boundaries in the first half hour after the re-start as the required number of runs dropped to double digits. The pair had added 96 when the Australian fell lbw to his fellow-countryman Wright for 32.
Steven Mullaney got away with a couple of cover drives but then lost his partner. Hales into the eighties for the third time this season looped Andrew to Mitchell at cover.
Wright then knocked Mullaney’s off stump out as three wickets fell for just five runs.
Read and Franks came together with 54 required from 21 overs and all but saw the job through. Only two were required when the left hander was superbly taken by Moeen Ali at midwicket, off Richardson - but then, to a great roar of approval, the Notts skipper lofted Ali for a straight six in the next over to complete the victory.