Magnificent Jack Shantry produced a superb bowling performance but Worcestershire were facing a winning target of 324 in the LV = County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
Shantry was a model of consistency and the pick of the Worcestershire bowlers and a late burst of wickets took his figures to a superb 35.4-13-48-5.
Today, the hottest so far of the year, he put together figures of 26.4-9-40-4 and it was another lion-hearted effort.
But half centuries from Riki Wessels, James Taylor and Chris Read ensured a solid reply by the home side in the sultry weather conditions after conceding a first innings deficit of 43 as they reached 366 all out.
Worcestershire openers Richard Oliver (11) and Daryl Mitchell (2) saw their side through to 13-0 off five overs by the close.
Oliver survived a sharp chance in the final over from Ben Hilfenhaus with Samit Patel putting down the chance at square leg.
He completed 1,000 first class runs when on two in his 17th match at an average of 33.33.
Nottinghamshire this morning resumed on 115-3 and runs initially came freely with Joe Leach conceding 15 in his first two overs.
But Shantry quickly settled into his accustomed line and length and did not concede a run until his fifth over when a three by Wessels brought up the 150.
Taylor was content to graft away but did briefly up the tempo with two sixes in an over from Saeed Ajmal.
Wessels went to his half century off 95 balls with six fours via a two off Shantry.
But the left armer broke through when Wessels on 55 fell to an excellent tumbling catch by Joe Clarke running back from extra cover with the total 174-4.
The Wessels-Taylor stand was worth 105 in 35 overs.
Ed Barnard replaced the excellent Shantry after a morning spell of 10-5-15-1.
Taylor went to his half century off 142 balls with two sixes and three fours.
But he was run out for 56 via his runner Alex Hales, failing to beat the throw from the boundary from Clarke going for a third run off Ajmal, with Notts then 201-5.
Notts went to lunch at 210-5 and there was a brief delay to the resumption after a rain shower during the interval.
It became 234-6 when Patel went on the back foot to Ajmal and was trapped lbw for 31 with a delivery which skidded on.
Worcestershire took the second new ball at 244-6 but Read and Brett Hutton provided strong resistance during a stand of 93.
Shantry's perseverance was rewarded with a sudden deserved flurry of wickets.
He broke the Read-Hutton stand by trapping the latter lbw for 34 after he played down the wrong line.
Shantry struck again in his next over when Read, having made 73 off 122 balls with seven fours, went for a pull and was bowled.
Then the left armer picked up his fourth wicket when Hilfenhaus (9) was undone by a ball which left him and was caught by Tom Kohler-Cadmore at first slip.
Shantry completed his haul when Luke Fletcher, who had a runner after damaging his hamstring on the opening day, was bowled for seven via the inside edge.
Kohler-Cadmore deputised as 12th man in the field for Alex Gidman who was struck on the helmet yesterday by a Ben Hilfenhaus delivery.
