Zimbabwean Brendan Taylor makes history with ton in each innings for Notts CCC

Batsman Brendan Taylor wrote his name into the Nottinghamshire CCC record books on the final day of their Specsavers County Championship, First Division match against Durham at Trent Bridge.
HISTORY MAN -- Brendan Taylor, who became the first Notts CCC batsman to fire a century in each innings of a Championship match at Trent Bridge since Tim Robinson in 1989.HISTORY MAN -- Brendan Taylor, who became the first Notts CCC batsman to fire a century in each innings of a Championship match at Trent Bridge since Tim Robinson in 1989.
HISTORY MAN -- Brendan Taylor, who became the first Notts CCC batsman to fire a century in each innings of a Championship match at Trent Bridge since Tim Robinson in 1989.

The former Zimbabwe captain was undefeated on 105 when rain brought a premature conclusion to the contest early in the afternoon, leaving both sides to settle on a draw.

But it was Taylor’s second hundred of the match and made him the first Notts batsman to achieve the double feat since Russell Warren, who managed it against Middlesex, at Lord’s, in 2003. He’s the first to score a ton in each innings of a Championship match at Trent Bridge since former England player Tim Robinson way back in 1989.

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When play was called off, Notts were on 289-5 in their second innings, giving them an overall an overall lead of 376 after Durham had responded to the hosts’ first innings score of 534 with 447. A declaration appeared imminent, with only 63 overs remaining, but then the rain came to scupper any chance the home side of collecting a much-needed victory to end a shaky run of form.

Notts began the day on 104-1, which equated to a lead of 191. Any immediate progress was stifled as Graham Onions dismissed Greg Smith for 21 in the first over of the day, trapping the batsman lbw with one that kept low. But the former England bowler, who once took nine wickets in an innings at Trent Bridge, then added to Durham’s injury problems by limping off midway through his fourth over.

More wickets tumbled as Jake Libby steered Chris Rushworth to gully for 42 and Michael Lumb hit a return catch to Scott Borthwick, having made 52 from 71 balls

But Taylor played superbly, monopolising his 97-run stand with Lumb as he fired a couple of sixes off Borthwick and another from the bowling of Paul Collingwood to bring up his 50 from just 35 balls.

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Unbeaten on 82 at lunch, with the side 344 ahead, Taylor was given the opportunity to register his 28th first-class hundred when the innings was allowed to extend into the afternoon session.

Samit Patel fell straight after the resumption, chopping into the ‘keeper’s gloves for 10, to give Borthwick his eighth wicket of the match.

But Taylor pulled the same bowler for six to move to 96 and then dabbed part-time bowler Mark Stoneman to third man to bring up his ton, getting there from 79 balls, with nine fours and five sixes.

Another punch down the ground followed, but by then steady drizzle was falling and the umpires decided it was time to call a halt to proceedings.