Fall denies tail-ender a maiden century

Nottinghamshire fast bowler Luke Fletcher was left "gutted" after an ill-timed stumble cost him what would have been his maiden first-class century on Saturday.

Scores: The latest English county action

Fletcher, who had a first-class batting average of 14.46 heading into this weekend's clash with Durham, moved to 92 on day two of the match having walked to the crease the previous evening as a nightwatchman.

Having survived until stumps on day one, Fletcher then thrived in a 108-run stand with Australian James Pattinson, whose score of 59 was his second half-century in as many games for his new county.

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But with Fletcher just eight runs short of three figures and at the non-strikers end, he moved several paces down the wicket after Pattinson had struck a ball in the direction of Keaton Jennings at gully.

Fletcher thought a single was in the offing but Jennings made a brilliant diving stop and, having turned to make his ground, Fletcher slipped and fell with his bat slipping from his grasp.

The 198cm giant quickly got to his feet and attempted to sprint back to safety, but he wasn't quick enough to beat bowler Paul Collingwood, who collected the throw and whipped off the bails (watch the incident in full in the video at the top of the page)

"To get to 92 was brilliant and it put us in a strong position," Fletcher said. "But I was gutted to get out the way I did.

Scorecard: Durham v Nottinghamshire

"I felt really comfortable all day and just wanted to be patient once I got to 90 and started to think about a century.

"The ball looked like it was going past gully, but Keaton Jennings made a good stop. I think there was a run if we had both gone straight away."

While Fletcher equalled his career-best score, Pattinson once again displayed his rapidly-improving ability with the bat.

The left-hander hit nine fours having come to the crease with Notts in deep trouble at 7-156, less than a week after he'd rescued them with an unbeaten 89 against Leicestershire.

Pattinson has averaged 49 with the bat in 10 first-class innings since his latest return from a serious injury, including four half-centuries.