RARELY in Durham's first-class history has a nightwatchman put in such a valuable shift as Mark Wood yesterday, when his career-best 66 set up a six-wicket win at home to Nottinghamshire.

Durham shrugged off the humiliation of being dismissed for 71 at Lord's last week by coasting to their third win in four games, moving them up to second place behind Middlesex.

In his first county appearance of the season after being a non-playing member of the England squad in the West Indies, Wood followed the previous day's four-wicket haul by batting through the morning session with Keaton Jennings.

Their second-wicket stand of 116 took Durham well on the way to their target of 261 and Jennings, who made 61, said: “For Mark to get a career-best on that pitch was phenomenal.

“He played beautifully. He looked calm and controlled and took the pressure off me. We knew if we could get through the first hour without losing wickets we would have a good chance, so to get through the whole morning unscathed was a big bonus.”

Jennings also shared a big stand with the previous week's nightwatchman at Lord's, Chris Rushworth, and added: “I though he was going to get a career-best as well. I'm not claiming any credit – it's a sign that we all trust each other. Everyone can bat and we are a side in which everyone wants to chip in and get the job done.

“There are some interesting characters – some fighters and some calm individuals and as a unit we get on really well.”

Durham now turn their attention to Twenty20 cricket with a home match against the 2013 champions, Northamptonshire, starting at 5.30 on Friday.

Work continues on preparing the ground for the erection of floodlights and it is hoped they will be ready for the T20 visit of Yorkshire on May 29, which would enable play to start at 7pm.

One-day skipper Mark Stoneman said: “That will add to the spectacle. Our T20 history is poor but we are starting afresh and hope to put in good performances. We all enjoy playing in front of the big crowds and have worked hard on our skills.”

Meanwhile, four-day captain Paul Collingwood has said it would take “an offer I can't refuse” to persuade him to take a role in the new England set-up.

Although he is friendly with the new director, Andrew Strauss, Collingwood denied he was considering an application to replace sacked England coach Peter Moores.

“I want to keep playing for Durham at least until the end of this season,” he said. “I am interested in coaching and am enjoying bringing on the youngsters here. That's something which would be very hard to give up.”

Collingwood showed great faith in Graham Onions when the ex-England bowler was struggling on Monday before bringing himself on to wrap up Nottinghamshire's second innings by taking three for seven.

Told he had passed 150 first-class wickets, he said: “It's only taken 20 years. It's nice to reach any milestone but I would rather Graham had got the wickets.

“I always feel sympathy for any bowler operating in a strong wind. There's no problem with his fitness but he'd be the first to admit he's not bowling excellently at the moment.

“He has bowled some wonderful spells for Durham and he's probably only one spell away from getting it right again.”