v Derbyshire Falcon RLODC Quarter Final at Trent Bridge

CLASS TELLS as Falcons plummet from Pelican Cup

A superb man of the match of the match performance from James Taylor ensured that Notts thrashed their local rivals and advanced to the Royal London semis.

With Hales and Gurney on England duty Sam Wood and Jake Ball came in, Taylor won the toss and decided to bat on a wicket in the centre of the square.

A solitary leg bye came over  number one as Footitt bowled the only the maiden of the innings. Lumb hit four fours off his second over and he looked in fine form. Unfortunately in the fourth over of the innings Mullaney drove the ball to Ben Cotton who deflected the ball onto the non-strikers stumps and Lumb was run out backing up for 19. Worse followed two balls later as Mullaney (9) edged Cotton to Madsen at slip, 31 for two.

Patel and Taylor batted cautiously on a wicket taking a spin. Titch survived a run out attempt on 26 and another on 71 but the partnership grew, but when the power play was taken Notts as ever lost a wicket as Patel was caught at deep square leg off Footitt  for a 74-ball 55 with five fours. The third wicket partnership had raised 136 in 30 overs. Wessels added impetus by hitting a quickfire 19-ball 28, as the five overs batting power play added 40 for the loss of Patel. Wessels then pulled Wainwright to short mid-wicket as Notts stood on 215 for four, with 57 balls. Wainwright had bowled 10-0-35-1. Franklin as ever was happy to deal in singles as Taylor went to overdrive after reaching his chance-less century in 134 balls. Franklin was badly dropped by Footitt at short third man and Taylor rubbed salt in the wound by hitting two sixes. Derbyshire’s bowling fell to pieces as massive 63 runs came off the last four overs. Franklin was run out for 27 with three balls remaining as 87 runs had been added in nine overs for the fifth wicket. Then Read hit the final three balls of the innings for 6,4,1 as Notts closed on 313 for five, a score which appeared well beyond Derbyshire compass. Taylor finished on 146 not out off 154 balls with eight fours and five sixes as he left the ground to a standing ovation. Palladino, Footitt, Cotton and Durston all went for over seven an over with Palladino going for 71 off his 10 over allocation.

Derbyshire lost a wicket off the last ball of the second over as Durston (5) fell to fine instinctive catch by Mullaney at extra cover, Ball the bowler. Fletcher was proving economical from the Pavilion End but with Ball proving more expensive, Godleman and North added 53 in 11 overs. Shahzad replaced Ball and Godleman played on to him to depart for 25. Sam Wood bowled four overs for 22 from the Pavilion End having replaced The Metronome. Despite getting some turn his four overs went for 22. Madsen (14) was then caught at midwicket as Shahzad picked his second wicket, 94 for three. Titch then turned to the Mullaney and Patel combination as the latter bowling from the Radcliffe Road end filleted the soft under belly that is Derbyshire middle order. Hughes who survived a leg before appeal was bowled by Patel for 5. Then six overs later former Notts man Scott Elstone (10) struggling to make much of an impression Sheepside departed caught behind of a ball that turned considerably, 130 for 5. North remained but the required run rate was going above 10 an over when he advanced down the pitch to Patel and was stumped by the ever sharp Read for 67 an innings which lasted 91 balls. Cross (23) became Patel’s fourth victim as he caught by Taylor on the run at extra cover. Next over Shahzad bowled Palladino, Derby 163 for eight. The Derby tail went for their shots as 40 were added for the ninth wicket in 29 balls before the returning Fletcher bowled Cotton for 10. A further 25 runs were added for the last wicket until Fletcher bowled Wainwright for 41, an innings which came off just 31 balls. Derbyshire 228 all out as Patel finished with four for 49 to go with earlier 55, but Taylor was the obvious choice as man of the match as Notts triumphed by a massive 85 runs with 31 balls unused. Notts now have to wait until Friday to find out their semi-final opponents.  MAG