Pattinson leads Nottinghamshire nearer title

Darren Pattinson, the Australia-raised quick who received a shock call-up to the England Test side in July, starred for Nottinghamshire as the leaders closed in on the County Championship title.

Pattinson took three for 43, including two wickets in an over, against Hampshire at Trent Bridge on Wednesday's first day of four in the final round of matches, with the visitors' own title hopes all but extinguished as they closed on 199 for nine.

Should Nottinghamshire win this match they will be the first-class champions of England regardless of results elsewhere.

Second-placed Somerset, who have to score nine more points than the Midlands county and hope Durham (third) don't score two more than them to win the Championship for the first time in their history, were bowled out for 202 at home to Lancashire.

Former Australia batsman Justin Langer, Somerset's captain, was caught behind for eight and his opening partner Marcus Trescothick, the ex-England international fell for nought.

However, Lancashire in reply collapsed to 56 for four with former England quick Andy Caddick and South African Charl Willoughby taking two wickets apiece before stumps.

Rejuvenated England quick Stephen Harmison took four for 72 as Durham, who've also never won the County Championship, reduced hosts Kent to 190 for nine on the first day at Canterbury where ex-England batsman Rob Key made 58. Pattinson got into his game after lunch by removing Sean Ervine, playing on and teenager Liam Dawson, lbw, in the same over before clean bowling Hampshire keeper Nic Pothas, who top scored with 44.

Hampshire captain and England one-day all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas, like Pattinson born in England but brought up in Australia, made 41.

It had looked as if the cricket career of former roof tiler Pattinson, born in the English port town of Grimsby, might only go as far as bowling for Melbourne club side Dandenong.

But he was dramatically selected for the second Test against South Africa at Headingley after only 11 first-class matches following an injury to county colleague Ryan Sidebottom.

His call-up, two weeks short of his 30th birthday, was widely criticised by several English cricket greats, who said Pattinson would have just as readily appeared for Australia if given the chance.

Legendary England all-rounder Ian Botham was particularly scathing, branding Pattinson's promotion "the most illogical, pathetic and diabolical piece of selecting I've seen".

However, Pattinson was one of the then form bowlers in county cricket with 29 wickets at 20.86 apiece for Nottinghamshire.

England lost the second Test by 10 wickets but Pattinson could not be blamed for a first-innings batting collapse and he bowled creditably in taking two for 95 as South Africa piled up 522. But no sooner had Pattinson been picked than he was dropped and the seamer now seems destined to end his career as a 'one-cap wonder'.

LONDON, Sept 24 (AFP)