IF anyone doubted the strength of character in the Notts dressing room before, then they surely don't have a leg to stand on now.

After losing the Pro40 League title to opponents Sussex from the very last ball of the match, many teams' esteem would have been shattered beyond belief.

But Mick Newell's fighters have hit back in the best way possible.

This penultimate County Championship match with Surrey started three days after their heartache caused by Murray Goodwin's big hitting.

Yet they put that trauma behind them to produce a maximum 22-point win that has put them in the driving seat for their second four-day title in four years.

Resuming day three on 420-5, Notts advanced to 532 all out with the help of 82 from Graeme Swann (82 off 88 balls) and 36 from Mark Ealham in reply to Surrey's 267 all out to claim a first innings lead of 265.

The visitors did not have to bat again and seven Surrey wickets fell for 92 in the afternoon session.

Notts wasted little time in wrapping up the game after tea with the final two wickets needed – Jonathan Batty unable to bat after injury.

Director of cricket Newell was delighted by his team's victory margin of an innings and 143 runs.

"You always hope they will fall in a heap in their second innings and that is pretty much what happened because they had nothing to play for," he said.

"I think getting Mark Ramprakash early was key because he is the type of player who can bat for a long time and get a big score.

"The bowlers are the main reason we are where we are in the table."

Where Notts are is back to the top of the pile with 178 points from their 15 matches.

And if Somerset and Durham cannot win their ongoing games that looked to be heading for draws against Yorkshire and Sussex respectively, Notts will take a healthy lead into their final match against Hampshire at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.

Newell said: "Every point is going to be crucial and if things stay as they are we will going into the final round of games with something like a ten-point lead.

"It is not going to be easy to score 400 at Trent Bridge so people can get past us. But we beat Hampshire at the Rose Bowl."

Now all eyes are on Chester-le-Street and Scarborough today.

If, as expected, those games peter out into stalemate, the County Championship will be there for the taking.

matthew.halfpenny@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk