AFTER batting well into the afternoon session, nightwatchman Luke Fletcher suffered an agonising end to his innings after equalling his career-best 92.

He was run out after slipping when trying to turn back from halfway down the pitch. Had he not also dropped his bat he would have regained his ground at the non-striker's end.

James Pattinson had played the ball to deep gully and took a stride forward before changing his mind with Fletcher well on his way as Keaton Jennings fielded the ball.

It was a sad end to an eighth-wicket stand of 108, which helped Nottinghamshire to a total of 305, a lead of 143.

Mark Wood, who bowled for most of the afternoon, went closest to breaking the partnership when Ryan Pringle was unable to hang on to a sharp chance at second slip with Pattinson on 23.

When Durham briefly turned to Pringle's off breaks, Fletcher lofted him for a straight four then swept his 13th boundary to reach 90.

He added two singles before his 153-ball innings ended and Pattinson went on to make 59 before the new ball brought the final two wickets.

Pattinson skied an attempted hook off a Graham Onions bouncer and Harry Gurney was bowled by Chris Rushworth, who finished with four for 54.

Tea was taken at the end of the innings, leaving a 47-over final session, and from the sixth ball Stephen Cook departed for a duck when he edged Jake Ball to second slip.