Nottinghamshire slipped to their second LV= County Championship defeat of the season, losing to Warwickshire by 9 wickets after setting the visitors just 60 to win in their second innings.
A battling performance from Paul Franks and Adam Voges, followed by a typically robust half century from Andre Adams, had lifted Notts to an all out total of 318 on the third day but their poor first innings score had already put them firmly on the back foot.
Director of Cricket Mick Newell paid tribute to the battling qualities shown during the early part of the day but conceded that he standards shown in the opening exchanges needed to be raised.
"Ultimately it’s all about the team effort and this week we just haven’t been good enough.” Paul Franks
“They did well and battled hard but it was always going to be a big ask to get us back into the game from the position we’d found ourselves in but battling well on day three is not enough,” he said.
The morning belonged entirely to Nottinghamshire, with Voges and Franks batting throughout the entire two hour session. Not only did they occupy the crease but they also scored 121 runs at a fair rate.
Franks had got away to the quicker start, hitting Naqqash Tahir away for three early off-side boundaries.
His half century came up from just 66 deliveries (9 x 4s) with a carefully steered four to third man off Darren Maddy. Voges’ own fifty took a little longer – 91 balls faced but containing the same number of boundaries.
Lunch arrived with the score on 183-4 with Franks on 76 and Voges on 61. Their stand had already added 143 to move Notts within 76 of making Warwickshire bat again.
During the early part of the afternoon they again prospered but with the score on 214 Notts lost their fifth wicket. A thickish edge by Voges, off the bowling of Maddy, was brilliantly taken one-handed by Chopra diving to his right at slip.
Chris Read made 15 before falling lbw to Tahir and then cruelly Franks fell four short of his century. Looking to record his first championship century since 2005 he had batted impeccably in reaching 96 but then nicked Maddy to ‘keeper Ambrose.
Graeme Swann was bowled for one but then an exhibition of power hitting by Stuart Broad and Andre Adams brought up a rapid 50 stand – ended when Broad, who had hit Rankin over long-on for six, hit the same bowler high into the air for Tim Ambrose to take a running catch.
Adams, not to be outdone by anyone in the hitting stakes, went on the offensive with four mighty blows clearing the ropes as he raced to his third fifty in three championship matches. His innings of 51 (31 balls 4x4 4x6) ended when he lost his off peg to Rikki Clarke.
Charlie Shreck trapped Varun Chopra in front of his stumps when Warwickshire began their quest to score 60 after tea but Will Porterfield and Ian Bell made short work of racing to their target.
Paul Franks admitted his disappointment afterwards, at getting out just short of his century.
“It’s always disappointing to get out when you’ve batted for that length of time”, he said.
“Batting where I usually do in the order, those kind of opportunities don’t present themselves very often and this was a chance to score a hundred that I missed out on.
“It’s been a while since I’ve scored a championship century so it was particularly frustrating but ultimately it’s all about the team effort and this week we just haven’t been good enough.”