Derbyshire Falcons Vitality T20 Blast at Trent Bridge Win Report

 

ASSURED MONTGOMERY BRINGS VICTORY HOME AFTER CLARKE QUICK-FIRE FIFTY

Notts opened up their T20 campaign with a comfortable four wicket win over Derbyshire achieved with 18 balls to spare. Notts had four players making their Green and Gold T20 debut in their line-up: star Pakistani left-armer Shaheen Shan Afridi and three players born in South Africa – Colin Munro (born Durban), Surrey loanee Conor McKerr (Born Johannesburg) and Matt Montgomery (born Johannesburg). They all had pleasing debuts. Tom Moores returned after a 6-week absence with a broken finger and took over the gloves. Haseeb Hameed, Somerset loanee Jack Brooks and another South African born player Calvin Harrison (born Durban) were left out of the starting eleven.

Derbyshire got off to a lightning start as Luis Reece (53) and veteran Wayne Madsen (61) added 112 in 9.5 overs for the second wicket. But they lost their way completely adding 60 runs in the last 9 overs. Afridi (4-0-21-1), McKerr (4-0-34-1) and Matt Carter (4-0-30-1; after conceding 15 off his opening over) the standouts. Despite a high average age to the line-up Notts fielded well. With a lightning-fast outfield and a flat wicket, the total seemed under par. Clarke, in the best form of his Notts career, sped to 29-ball 68 (9x4, 4x6) as 58 was put on the for opening stand with Hales. By the time Clarke was out Notts were 87-2 off 6.5 overs. There then followed the innings of night from Montgomery who playing pleasing cricket strokes all-round the wicket made a 29-ball 51 (6x4, 1x6) adding 60 for third wicket in 5.4 overs with the left-handed Munro. With Notts clearly trying give early impetus to their net run rate, Scrimshaw took three wickets in what turned out to the last over of the contest.

Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat on a pleasantly warm evening. The crowd was larger than we saw last season, probably into five figures, the unpopular seat reservation scheme to suit the Bread and Lard brigade consigned to the bin. Afridi bowled the first over from the Pavilion End, five came off the over including a wide and 2 leg byes. McKerr bowled the second over, starting with a wide and he removed Haider Ali (1) caught at third man by Montgomery, 6 for 1. Madsen hit McKerr to the cover ropes, seven off the over number 2. Reece pulled Afridi for four, seven off the third over. Carter bowled the 4th over, Madsen pulling him for successive legside boundaries and then hitting him for a straight four, 15 off the over. Patel's first ball was hit for four over mid-off. A full toss from Patel was hit for legside four by Madsen, 10 off the over. McKerr bowled the last over of the power play , Madsen, looking in fine form, hitting him over mid-wicket for four and then over square leg for. Derbyshire 56 for 1 after 6 overs.

Madsen reverse swept Patel for 4 and then next ball drove him to the extra cover ropes. The fifth ball of the over, which went for 17, was hit for six by Madsen. Patel a thorn in Derbyshire’s side so many times was having an off night. Reece hit Mullaney for six over backward square leg, ten off the 8th over. Reece hit James for successive boundaries and Madsen hit the last delivery of the over to third man to reach his 50 off 26 balls, 15 off James’ solitary over of the night. The 100 came up in the 10th over bowled by Carter. Derbyshire 103 for 1 off 10 overs.

Pivotal point of the contest

Madsen launched Mullaney for six into the Fox Road Stand. Reece reached 50 off 30 balls with a six over backward square leg. Madsen (61) finally fell to catch at extra cover by Clarke off Mullaney, 118 for 2 off 11 overs. The Derbyshire innings completely imploded from this pivotal point.

Carter went for four off the 12th over. Montgomery took a wicket with his second delivery, Reece (53) holing out to long off, Hales taking the catch, 123 for 3, five off the 13th over. Montgomery’s sole over of the evening. Du Plooy hit Carter through extra cover for 4. Two dot balls followed and du Plooy then was bowled going for a legside hit off Carter, 131 for 4, six off the over. Patel (0-32) conceded six off his third and last over including a bye, Derbyshire 139 for 4 off 15 overs.

Dal (7) was smartly stumped by Moores off Mullaney , 142 for 5. Hampshire loanee Donald hit Mullaney (3 0 37 2) for six over long on, 12 off the over. Donald became Afridi s first victim, lbw for 9, 154 for 6 off 17 overs. Chappell pulled McKerr for 4 through mid-wicket. Derbyshire 161 for 6 off 18 overs. McKiernan hit Afridi for 6 over long on, eight of Afridi s (4 0 21 1) last over. McKerr (4 0 34 1) bowled the final over, McKiernan pulled his fifth delivery for a legside four. Derbyshire 178 for 6 off 20 overs with McKiernan on 16 and Chappell on 11. The total looked somewhat under par.

Zaman Khan (Pavilion End) bowled the first over, the Pakistani seamer possessing a very slingy low armed action. Hales hit him for 4 through extra cover, seven off the over. Clarke hit Scrimshaw for two fours to the mid-wicket boundary in the 2nd over which costed 11 runs. Hales hit Zaman Khan for four through square leg and followed it with four leg byes off a legside delivery, 30 for 0 off 3 overs. The fourth over bowled by Scottish left-armer Mark Watt went for 26 (444446) as Clarke demolished him. The first boundary was a bit fluky Clarke mistiming his stroke, spooning the ball to the point ropes. The second delivery went to the extra cover ropes. The third ball was lofted over Watt's head for four. Ball four was hit to the cover ropes. The fifth ball was another lofted straight drive bringing up the 50 partnership off 24 balls. The last ball went for a six over extra cover. Hales (12) skied a slower ball from Chappell to Zaman Khan in the covers, two off Chappell's opening over, 58 for 1 off 5 overs. Clarke hit Scrimshaw for successive sixes over mid-wicket and extra cover to reach 50 off 23 balls. The fourth ball was hit for 4 by Clarke through fine leg. The final delivery was hit by Clarke through backward point for yet another boundary, Notts 78 for 1 off 6 overs. Notts had broken the back of the chase.

Clarke hit Chappell for 6 over long on. Chappell got his revenge dismissing Clarke lbw for 68, 87 for 2. Ten off the 7th over. Chappell (4-0-29-2) who had such a torrid and injury ravaged four years at Notts has found finally found his feet in the less pressurised atmosphere of the County Ground and was Derbyshire’s best bowler of the night, McKiernan bowled the following over, Montgomery switch hitting for four, eight off the over. Montgomery hit Watt to the extra cover ropes to bring up the Notts 100. Munro effortlessly swept Watt for 6 over square leg, 14 off Watt’s second over. McKiernan conceded five of the 10th over. Notts 115 for 2.

Scrimshaw was hoisted for six by Montgomery into the Fox Road Stand, a four followed next ball through extra cover, 15 off the over. Munro hit McKiernan (3-0-27-0) for six over mid-wicket. The 50 partnership between Munro and Montgomery came up in 28 balls. Montgomery hit another boundary to the cover ropes, Notts 144 for 2 off 12 overs. Munro (23) fell to catch at long leg by Scrimshaw off the returning Zaman Khan (4-0-30-1), 147 for 3 in the 13th over. Moores got off the mark with a four through backward point aided by a misfield on the ropes. The visitors ground fielding was mediocre throughout the innings. Notts 151 for 3 after 13 overs. Montgomery hit Chappell for four through extra cover. Montgomery dabbed Chappell to the third man ropes. Moores hooked Zaman Khan (4-0-30-1) for four. Notts 169 for 3 off 15 overs. Montgomery reached his 50 off 27 deliveries with a single off Chappell. Moores pulled Chappell for four through square leg, seven off the over. Scrimshaw (4-0-52-3) picked up three wickets in the 17th over, bowling a series of short deliveries. Montgomery (51) scooped to Reece at long leg, 176 for 4. Mullaney fell for a golden duck bowled going for a legside hit, 176 for 5. A wide followed and then a single to James (1*). Moores became the third wicket to fall caught at long leg by Zaman Khan for 16, 178 for 6. Patel (4*) top edged the only ball he faced over keeper’s Donald’s head and down to Radcliffe Road ropes. Notts 182-6 off 17 overs.

Notts face a much tougher challenge tonight at Old Trafford. Lancashire along with Warwickshire seem to be the strongest teams in the group. MAG

If Moores and Newell had a plan for 2023 beyond signing three big names for the Blast we will never know, but if they had a plan, then it's in disarray now!

In spite of the lack of season to season squad planning*, everyone knows that a game of T20 is often won owing to individual's brilliance on the day. Notts Outlaws still have individuals that can win matches on their own (almost).

*All so called planning would appear to have gone into an Olly Stone shaped basket and true to the reputation that preceeded his arrival at Trent Bridge, he's picked up an injury even before the competition started. A turn of events that has arrived 3 weeks ahead of what could have been anticipated by Moores and Newell and their cheque book. Luckily there was some money left in the account for a couple of big name overseas specialists.

The first game of the season is always an important one for Outlaws, finding out if Samit Patel has finally passed his use by date or not. One year it will happen, but not this year hopefully as reports of his bowling in warm-up games have been favourable. Samit's batting however, is said to be a bit smelly and passed its best, so hopefully he won't be called upon to don his pads much in 2023, fingers-crossed.

The loss of Duckett (ECB), Fletcher ankle), Stone (hamstring) and the continued absence of Welsh Fireman Jake Ball means that holes in the squad needed filling and they've chosen to fill those holes with loanees.

Well done to all concerned, that the pressure is now off the Outlaws to qualify for the Quarter-Finals this years, expectations have been well and truely lowered. We may do well in 2023 now.

25/05

Two short term loans to cover persistant absentees from the bowling unit means tomorrow night's Outlaws side will have an unfamiliar look to it.

Secret Squirrel, as always, is keeping his cards close to his chest in announcing a 14 man squad:

Joe Clarke

Alex Hales

Haseeb Hameed

Lyndon James

Matt Montgomery

Tom Moores

Colin Munro

Steven Mullaney

Calvin Harrison

Matt Carter

Shaheen Afridi

Jack Brooks

Conor McKerr

Samit Patel

A squad that is potentially light on batsmen with a long tail. How many Outlaws debutants are we going to get? Ben Duckett's call-up leaves a big hole in the side!

Someone who won't be making his debut is Ben Martindale, which is a disgrace as he has shown-up his more senior colleagues that have joined him in 2s this season. Ben scored another 90 odd today.