RAIN frustrated Nottinghamshire's hopes of claiming their fourth LV County Championship win of the season, as their match with Lancashire ended in a draw.

Needing nine wickets at the start of the day with Lancashire still requiring another 371 to win, heavy rain from the early hours of the morning through to lunch meant no play was possible until 3pm.

With a maximum of 43 overs available on a slow but true pitch, Nottinghamshire were never likely to engineer a collapse from the visitors.

Ryan Sidebottom had Karl Brown well caught at third slip by a tumbling David Hussey in the 14th over.

But nightwatchman Kyle Hogg successfully saw off the danger until after tea, when he was bowled by Darren Pattinson for 34.

Stumps were drawn at 5pm with Lancashire 97-3, Mal Loye finishing on 31 not out in company with Mark Chilton.

The result leaves Notts in second place in Division One, 18 points behind leaders Durham but with a game in hand.

Durham had earlier rushed to their fourth successive County Championship victory, beating Worcestershire by five wickets with Michael di Venuto scoring 100 not out off 123 balls.

With rain forecast to arrive at the Riverside at around 1pm, Durham were anxious to gather the 115 runs they needed as quickly as possible when they resumed on 64-1 with Di Venuto on 43.

In fact the runs were scored off only 20 overs and victory was achieved at 12.14pm, 20 minutes before the rain arrived.

"The target was to get there by lunch, but it's just as well we did it more quickly," said Di Venuto after his third championship hundred of the season.

"When I was batting with Ian Blackwell he told me I could get to three figures, but I said we should just get the job done. Then he got out and things just fell my way.

"We are playing some terrific cricket at the moment. The first two days in this match cancelled each other out when it was hot and humid and the ball was swinging. "

Notts face Durham at Trent Bridge in their next match.