v Middlesex LV= at Lord's

Day Four

With Chris Read carrying a shoulder injury, the last five wickets put up little resistance and set just a meagre 112 target. Middlesex duly won by 10 wickets, out batting (Morgan, Robson and Simpson) and out bowling (Steven Finn) Notts over the 4 days. 

Bad news is Read's injury and the disappointing display by the Notts eleven.

One bit of good news - defeat has only 3 less points than a draw and Adam Tillcock scored Notts' first competitive ton today at the Notts Sports Ground against a spirited Yorkshire 2nds attack.

Day Three

Lunch

More hard slog for the Nottinghamshire attack. Sam Robson didn't last into the second hour but did extend his score to 163 before Carter's extra pace and bounce surprised him, caught above Wessels head. The only other wicket in the morning session was Herr Rayner was out on lunch, bowled by the perennially under-utilised Steven Mullaney for 20. 384/6.

Post-lunch, Middlesex chased runs and lost wickets but not before John Simpson had reached three figures, ending on 108*, Middlesex 439/9 dec - Berg absent, having gone to hospital earlier in the morning.

Tea

Notts' batsman having to show determination and mettle in the third innings and at tea were just about clinging on. 78/2 with Jacques and Mullaney out inside 20 overs.

Stumps

The hapless innings continued to 120/5 with the fall of Taylor, all 5 out LBW; only then with Riki Wessels and Captain Read in the middle did some solidity arrive. At stumps Read had reach with some fluidity to 43* whilst Wessels, batting more stoically, 20* (75 balls). 184/5 (71 ahead).











Day Two

On a flat deck Middlesex ended day 2 in a very strong position on 296 for 4 with England prospect Sam Robson 144 not out.

On another day of continuous sunshine Notts added just 11 runs to their overnight total, Carter (8) being caught at slip off Finn and then Fletcher being the first victim to fall from Nursery End bowling when he was caught at long off by Rogers off Murtagh for 25. Notts 326 all out with Finn five for 91 and Harris 4 for 80. The Middlesex attack had got more out of the wicket than the Notts bowlers did subsequently.

After Middlesex called for the heavy roller, Siddle surprisingly opened up from the fallow Nursery End with Fletcher from the Pavilion End. Fletcher outbowled his Australian partner, Rogers well caught at third slip by a diving Patel for 15 and then four balls later Malan being caught behind off Fletcher for a duck, 19 for two. Notts support bowling toiled manfully in the sunshine but Sam Robson and Morgan got their heads down and slowly the partnership built up momentum. Taylor attempted to run out Robson but only succeeded in throwing four overthrows. Siddle changed ends but after beating the bat in his early spell looked mediocre throughout and finished the day on 19-5-70-0, better days will hopefully follow. Like the Prince/Smith partnership last week, a wicket did not like falling but much to everyone’s surprise Eoin Morgan edged Gurney bowling from the Nursery End to fall to a diving catch by Chris Read. The Irishman finished with 86 off 133 balls with 12 fours. Robson and Morgan had added 203 in 53 overs to put Middlesex in a position of dominance.

Adam Rossington struggled throughout and looked ripe for a leg before decision which Carter (Pavilion End) got when he made eight, 237 for four. Notts took the new ball with nine overs remaining but Robson (144 not out) and Simpson (32 not out) looked completely untroubled as Middlesex closed on 296 for four, just 30 runs behind. Fletcher was the best Notts bowler 18-6-41-2. A poor day for Notts as Robson took his chance to shine once more his 144 not out from 278 balls with nineteen fours. A England call-up cannot be far away.

The first hour will be crucial this morning if Notts fail to take wickets with the newish ball, a large first innings deficit is on the cards. However on such an excellent batting surface Notts have a reasonable chance of getting a draw against opposition that have batted and bowled better over the first days of this fixture.

HONOURS EVEN AT HQ

Day One

On a day of continuous sunshine honours were even as stumps were drawn at 1820 yesterday in front of a good sized crowd at Headquarters.

Notts won the toss on a good deck on the Grandstand side of the square. Hales and Ball made way for Taylor and debutant Peter Siddle. Murtagh and Harris bowled well first up, and in the 10^th over Jaques edged the Welshman behind the stumps for 14, 16 for one. Mullaney and Lumb added 34 before Lumb mistimed a pull shot off Finn to be caught by Sam Robson at midwicket for 17.  Mullaney was hit on the arm from Finn but carried on after treatment. Taylor after a circumspect start accelerated to great effect and reached his 50 off 63 balls. In the 48^th over Taylor was plumb leg before to Harris as he tried to whip the ball to leg. Taylor out for 62 off 84 balls with 13 boundaries, 131 for three. In the same over Patel got the ball of the day snicking Harris to Simpson to depart for a second successive duck. Mullaney who was batting very circumspectly smashed Rayner over his head for a six that crashed against the Nursery end sightscreen. Finn returned from the Pavilion End and Mullaney (52) edged him to first slip, 164 for five.

Middlesex were bowling extremely well but on the flattish deck and the aging ball, batting became easier, Wessels in fine form at the moment added 86 with Read. The new ball was taken and with the 10th ball with it Read was beaten for pace and bowled neck and crop for 40 an innings which contained seven fours. Siddle was bounced by Finn first ball but then set about the Watford man as he raced to 40 off just 35 balls with five fours and one six. Wessels edged Finn to Rayner to depart for an excellent 58 an innings off 109 balls with seven fours and one six. Siddle eventually edged Harris to Morgan who caught him at point. Fletcher and Harris saw Notts to the close on 315 for eight. All the wickets were taken from the Pavilion End as Harris and Finn took four wickets a piece. The par score appears to be around 350 so a close fought match is expected.MAG


Nottinghamshire XI that play at Lord's against Middlesex are: 
Steven Mullaney, 
Phil Jaques, 
Michael Lumb, 
James Taylor, 
Samit Patel,
 Riki Wessels, 
Chris Read +(c),
 Peter Siddle,
 Luke Fletcher,
Andy Carter,
 Harry Gurney.

Jake Ball is twelfth man

Notts won the toss and will bat

Andre Adams and Ajmal Shahzad must prove their fitness with the Seconds before making their season debuts. Alex Hales hasn't been included in the announced twelve.

The Second XI play Yorkshire 2s on Monday; that side might contain some seniors.