Despite a defiant half century from Kraigg Brathwaite, Nottinghamshire were defeated by a very strong Surrey side in their latest Specsavers County Championship match at the Kia Oval.

Brathwaite scored 60 but Notts could only make 149 in their second innings, losing by an innings and 125 runs to the unbeaten Division One leaders.

The West Indian opener, who had begun the third day on 39 not out, hit seven boundaries and faced 149 balls in registering his first 50 in the championship but then fell to Conor McKerr, who took four for 26.

Notts began the day 191 runs adrift, on 83 for two in their second innings, and made serene progress for the first half hour, with Brathwaite reaching his 50 from 115 deliveries.

Morne Morkel. who took nine wickets when the sides met at Trent Bridge a month ago, altered the complexion of the morning by taking wickets with successive deliveries to initiate a difficult passage of play which saw Notts slide from 109 for two to 111 for five.

For the second time in the match Samit Patel, the Notts captain, was pinned lbw in his crease for 15 by the former South African international, who then had Billy Root caught behind first ball.

Riki Wessels survived the hat-trick ball but was sent a series of testing deliveries before nicking off against McKerr for a duck.

Brathwaite, for the second time in his innings, was then struck on the helmet but after being checked out by physio James Pipe was passed fit to carry on.

The opener bravely hung around for a couple more overs before edging through for wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.

Physio Pipe was back in the middle attending to Luke Wood (5) after a sharply-lifting ball rattled into the left-hander’s gloves, who was then caught by a diving Ollie Pope at gully, as Morkel claimed his third wicket of the day.

Luke Fletcher came and went quickly, having been involved in an unnecessary run out. Pushing into the off-side he completed a comfortable single, then tried to take an overthrow after a poor return from Amar Virdi.

A mix-up in communications saw Fletcher continue running, whilst Tom Moores tried unsuccessfully to send him back but Tom Curran had backed up well and helped execute the run out.

Lunch was taken with the visitors on 148 for eight and that was the same score when Moores fell soon after the restart, caught behind for 20, off Curran’s bowling  as Foakes celebrated his ninth catch of the match.

The match was concluded when Gurney (1) swished hard at McKerr and hoisted high to Virdi at mid-on, leaving Matt Milnes undefeated on 3.

Nottinghamshire take only three bonus points from the fixture yet remain third in the Division One table with three matches left in their season.

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