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Day 1: Middlesex muddle on

Justine Roberts at Southgate

First day of four: Middlesex 257-7 v Nottinghamshire

Before lunch, the bells at the church end tolled unremittingly, which, given Middlesex's funereal scoring rate and their batsmen's ability to lay down and die, seemed appropriate.

By lunch they were five down for only 59 in the battle of the underachievers at Southgate. But an obdurate partnership of 124 between Ben Hutton and David Nash for the sixth wicket kept Middlesex alive in their quest for First Division status next season.

Vasbert Drakes did most of the early damage. Bowling 18 overs unchanged, he was rewarded for his stamina with figures of three for 14.

Drakes was assisted by variable bounce and the in-form Paul Franks, who had taken 14 wickets in his last three games and bagged three more yesterday.

Left-hander Hutton, grandson of Sir Len, found his range after lunch and recorded his highest first-class score of 59 before Drakes trapped him lbw.

With Middlesex scoring at just over two an over, it was a relief when stumps were drawn. With the bell-ringers long gone, there was not much to keep the crowd interested.

Day 2: Support for Johnson strengthens Notts

Justine Roberts at Southgate

Second day of four: Nottinghamshire (276-5) trail Middlesex (291) by 15 runs

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Just lately, he has been bemoaning the fact that the side have had to rely over-heavily on the runs of Paul Johnson. The Notts veteran is averaging close to 50 this season and reached that landmark yesterday with some ease, taking just 77 balls and cracking eight fours before falling to a good low catch in the gully by Jamie Hewitt.

Fortunately for Notts he found some support from his captain, Jason Gallian, and Graeme Archer and with five wickets in hand and just 15 runs behind, they look set for a decent first-innings lead. With the groundsman promising some turn in the latter stages of this match and Notts fielding two spinners, such a lead could prove invaluable.

Batting appeared far easier than it had on the first day in fresh and breezy conditions at Southgate. Four of the five Notts wickets to fall were due to injudicious shots rather than penetrating bowling. Usman Afzaal looked well set before falling to an innocuous short-pitched delivery from Hewitt, Johnson and Gallian both holed out going for big shots and Archer chased a wide one from Keith Dutch after making his half-century.

It took just half an hour yesterday for Vasbert Drakes and Paul Franks, the first day's wicket-takers, to polish off the Middlesex innings. Drakes has extracted life from a pitch where others have found none and deservedly finished with figures of six for 64.

It was he who put an end to David Nash's dogged knock of 92 when he clutched a stinging return catch from his own bowling. Asked to comment on his bowling prowess, Drakes grinned and said: ``I just do my thing.''

Day 3: Drakes makes Middlesex pay

Justine Roberts at Southgate

Third day of four: Notts (306 & 108-2) bt Middlesex (291 & 120) by 8 wkts

After a day's absence, the bellringers at the aptly named church end made a brief reappearance yesterday. Perhaps they were hailing the news of Mark Ramprakash's effort at Old Trafford. There certainly was not much from Middlesex's batsmen at Southgate to cheer, as they collapsed for 120 in their second innings, leaving Notts the formality of knocking off 106 runs to win this match with a day and a bit to spare.

Much as in the first innings, the Middlesex upper order looked mystified by the new ball in the hands of Vasbert Drakes and Paul Franks. Drakes has given a performance of Stakhanovite proportions in this match (55.2-18-113-11), bagging his second 10-wicket haul of the season.

He bowled another long and hostile spell with the new ball yesterday, claiming three wickets. Among them were dangerman Justin Langer, playing his last championship game before joining the Australian touring party, and top scorer in the first innings, David Nash, who fell to a fine low catch at second slip by Graeme Archer.

Andrew Strauss rashly met a short ball from Drakes with a shoulder and two balls later was trudging back to the pavilion for some ice, after edging him to slip.

Franks chipped in with three wickets, including the openers leg before, both beaten for pace by straight balls.

For a brief spell in the morning, Middlesex looked to have fought their way back into the game through spinners Keith Dutch and Paul Weekes. Dutch, in particular, bowled with flight and accuracy and merited his inclusion for only the fifth time this season. He accounted for Drakes and Wayne Noon, who was well caught by Langer at slip. But the rapid capitulation of their batsmen, in under 50 overs, means Middlesex are in real danger of Second Division cricket next season.

Despite their good win here, breaking a spell of five losses on the trot, Notts also remain ensconced in the dogfight for First Division status. Whichever division they end up in they will have to do without the services of Drakes, 29, who has declared his intention to return to Barbados to try to win a place in the West Indies party to tour England next summer. There is talk of Notts signing Shoaib Akhtar as a replacement. They will need someone of that calibre.