Warwickshire LV Championship Div 1 at Trent Bridge Draw 7 points Report

 

Day 4

CLARKE STANDS TALL WITH MAIDEN DOUBLE CENTURY

as Notts earn unlikely draw

Notts gained a most unexpected and welcome draw at TB today batting through the day and losing just two wickets as Joe Clarke finished with a monumental 229 not out off 365 balls (35x4, 1x6). It was Clarke’s maiden double century and the 100th 200 recorded in Notts first-class history. Clarke reigned in his natural attacking game and played the situation perfectly. No other Notts batsman spread over the two innings reached a half century. However, Notts would not obtain the draw without partnerships of 100, 100, 85 and 103* for the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th wickets respectively. After James 84-ball rear-guard yesterday, all Clarke’s partners today, played their part. Mullaney scoring 48 off 106 balls, Moores 25 off 91 balls and Harrison in his second championship match a 142-ball undefeated 38*. Warwickshire after 209 consecutive overs in roasting conditions had no more to give shaking hands at 17:00 with 21 overs left as Notts led by 48 runs.

Before play commenced both teams and the umpires observed a minutes silence for the victims of atrocities that hit Nottingham 24 hours earlier. Briggs and Yates started off with two maidens. Rushworth (Pavilion End) and Hannon-Dalby took the new ball with Notts 267 for 8 off 80 overs. Mullaney lost his off-stump shouldering arms to Rushworth for 48, 286 for 5 in the 88th over. The 5th wicket partnership between Clarke and Mullaney had been worth 100 in 34 overs. Rhodes replaced Hannon-Dalby for the 92nd over and Clarke on 128 was dropped off his second delivery at first slip by Yates. The ball was travelling fast towards Yates’ head but he failed to hold onto the chance with the ball going to the boundary. Without doubt the crucial moment of the day. A two next ball saw Clarke past his Notts best of 133. Then an extra cover boundary by Clarke saw Notts pass 300, 11 off the over plus the crucial dropped catch. Hasan Ali had his first ball of the day in the 103rd over. Clarke reached his 150 off 234 balls. Danny Briggs and Ed Barnard came on for the 103rd and 104th overs respectively. The 50 partnership between Clarke and Moores took 55 balls and came up via a low six over square leg by Clarke off Briggs; the sole six of his marathon innings. Yates bowled the last over before lunch. Notts 341 for 5 off 108 overs at the break with Clarke on 166 and Moores on 16. They scored 74 for the loss of Mullaney in the 30 over session.

Briggs and Rushworth bowled straight after lunch with Hannon-Dalby reintroduced for 115th over. Thirty minutes after lunch Moores (25) was bowled by a delivery that kept low from Rushworth, 361 for 6 in the 116th over. Little did we know or even expect that this was the last wicket to fall in the match with Clarke and Harrison seeing Notts over the line. Clarke and Moores had shared a stand of 100 in 27 overs.

In the searing heat, Rhodes kept changing his bowlers, Barnard replaced Rushworth in the 120th over and Hasan Ali came on for the 124th over with Barnard returning once more for the 127th over. The Notts 400 was achieved in the 129th over, in an Barnard over costing 10 runs. Yates came on the following over and a single for Clarke took him past his previous highest score of 194 against Derbyshire at New Road in 2016 in his Worcestershire days. Danny Briggs returned from the Pavilion End in the 131st over. The fifty partnership between Clarke and Harrison came up in 100 balls. A swept four off Clarke from Briggs saw him 200 off 318 balls. Next ball a single for Harrison off Yates brought the scores level. Dan Mousley came on for a twirl in the 136th over. Notts 436 for 6 off 138 overs at tea with Clarke on 216 and Harrison on 26. The middle session had seen Notts scoring a further 95 off 30 overs for the loss of Moores. The unlikely draw now a possibility.

Hannon-Dalby and Rushworth were brought back after tea. The Notts 450 came up in the 143th over. Harrison was dropped on 33 pulling Rushworth straight to Hannon-Dalby at long leg who dropped a sitter. With 30 overs still remaining and Notts just 40 ahead, another key moment. From this point, the Warwickshire heads started to drop and with all the main seam bowlers now dead on their feet. Barnard and Briggs returned for the 146th and 147th overs respectively. Dan Mousley returned for the 150th over, now bowling dibbly dobblers with the 100 partnership between Clarke and Harrison taking 209 balls. With the score at 461 for 6 after 150 overs, Yates took over behind the stumps as Burgess came on bowling slow seamers. Warwickshire now had given up . The players shook hands at the earliest opportunity right on five o’clock with the unbroken stand between Clarke and Harrison worth 103 in 38 overs. Notts had lost two wickets all day with Warwickshire bowlers giving their all in intense heat and on a featherbed pitch. With Surrey chasing an unlikely 500 to beat Kent, Warwickshire are now 32 points behind them with Notts now standing in fifth place at the half way mark. MAG

Day 3

BEARS CLOSING IN ON INNINGS VICTORY DESPITE FINE, DEFIANT CLARKE TON

Joe Clarke reached his first first-class ton since the last match of 2021 as Notts closed another day of unrelenting sunshine still 149 in arrears with 6 second innings wickets standing. Warwickshire’s complete dominance of the fixture remained in the morning session as Notts disappointingly only added a further 73 to the overnight score being bowled out for 155 on a blameless surface. Hasan Ali the standout with 3-30 amongst the quintet of seamers. Notts, very much led by the in-form Clarke (119* off 178 balls, 22x4), at least showed some late fight after slipping from 61-0 to 86-3 in 10 overs. Clarke shared in stands of 100 with James (29) and 81* with Mullaney (37*) for the 4th and 5th wickets respectively as The Bears bowlers visibly tired. Notts closed on 267-4 off 78 overs. With the new ball due in just 2 overs time tomorrow, a herculean defensive effort will be required for Notts to save the game.

Hannon-Dalby (Radcliffe Road End) and Hasan Ali opened the bowling in bright sunshine, although a cooling breeze had appeared. It only took them 20 minutes to take the sixth wicket, Mullaney (16) tamely driving Hasan Ali straight to Rhodes at short mid-wicket, 96 for 6 after 37 overs. Moores pulled Hasan Ali to long leg to take Notts past 100 in the 39th over. A couple of bowling changes then occurred with Barnard coming on for Hannon-Dalby for 40th over and Rushworth replacing Hasan Ali for the 43rd over. Harrison hooked Rushworth for 6 over square leg. The following delivery was another short ball from Rushworth with Harrison miscuing him for four through long leg. Will Rhodes replaced Barnard for the 48th over and struck with his 6th ball bowling top scorer Tom Moores through the gate for 42, 138 for 7. The 7th wicket had added 42 in 11 overs as Moores and Harrison had considered attack was the best form of defence. The very next ball, Harrison (15) on the hook once more pulled Rushworth with Hannon-Dalby taking the catch at long leg, 138 for 8. Another batsman culpable to his own dismissal. Ball (5) lasted 14 balls before fending a short ball from Rhodes straight to Yates at first slip, 143 for 9 in the 52nd over. Briggs came on for the 56th over and Paterson (9) hit him for consecutive boundaries and then drove him straight to Hannon-Dalby at long off. The big paceman appearing to dislocate a finger in the process which was instantly put back in place by the Bears physio standing by the big scoreboard. Notts 155 all out off 56 overs with Hutton 2 not out. Warwickshire had bowled with good discipline but the final score was nowhere near good enough on the flat deck.

Notts 416 runs behind were asked to follow on and survived the 4 overs bowled before lunch by Rushworth (Pavilion End) and Hannon-Dalby. Notts 19 for 0 with Hameed on 15 and Slater on 4.

Hameed and Slater batted confidently after lunch the 50 coming up in the 14th over in 81 balls in Barnard's first over. Hasan Ali came on for the 15th over and in his third over Hameed shouldered arms to the Pakistani International and lost his off stump for 39. Another dreadful dismissal, the ball not appearing to do much. Two balls later, Montgomery fell leg before for a duck, beaten for pace, a second wicket for Hasan Ali. Notts 61 for 2 in the 17th over. Slater on 26 was caught behind off a Hasan Ali no ball. Will Rhodes came on to bowl for the 20th over. Briggs was introduced in the 25th over, The Bears clearly knowing Slater’s vulnerability against the twirlers. Slater (30) fell to a soft dismissal lobbing a short delivery from Briggs straight to Yates at short mid-wicket, 86 for 3 in the 27th over. Notts were not making it hard for The Bears to take wickets. A three-day victory looked to be on the cards. Clarke led the belated fightback as Notts lost only one more wicket in the remaining 52 overs of an elongated day involving 102.2 overs.

Briggs changed ends to bowl from the Radcliffe Road End with Hannon-Dalby now bowling from the Pavilion End. The Notts 100 in the 33rd over. Rhodes kept changing his bowlers. Ed Barnard returned in the 37th over and Rob Yates came for the 41st over. A square cut by Clarke off Briggs saw him to 50 off 73 balls and also bring up the 50 partnership with James. Notts 141 for 3 off 43 overs at tea with Clarke on 53 and James on 16.

The rear-guard action continued during the final session with Notts adding a further 126 runs for the loss of just James in 35 overs. Rhodes and Hasan Ali were bowling in tandem straight after the interval. The Notts 150 came up in the 45th over. In the following over, Clarke hit four boundaries from five deliveries from Rhodes. Cue some more bowling changes, Barnard returned for the 48th over and Rushworth for the 53rd over. James brought up the 100 partnership with a mid-wicket boundary off Rushworth but fell next ball caught at slip by Yates off Rushworth for 29, keeper Burgess standing up 186 for 4 in the 55th over. James who had faced 84 balls will be disappointed he had not kicked on in ideal batting conditions against a tiring attack. Hannon-Dalby returned for the 56th over and was greeted by a glorious straight drive by Clarke who was playing extremely sensibly. A pulled four by Clarke off Hannon-Dalby brought up the 200 in the 58th over. Hasan Ali returned for the 63rd over. Clarke reached to his ton off 136 balls with a cover drive off Hasan Ali. His first ton since the Yorkshire match at Trent Bridge in 2021. Clarke had reached a chanceless and deserved ton. He has been Notts best batsman over the last six weeks. Briggs came on from the Radcliffe Road End for the 64th over. The 50 partnership between Clarke and Mullaney had taken 69 balls. Rob Yates replaced Briggs and with his first delivery a third man boundary for Mullaney saw Notts past 250 in the 68th over. Briggs returned late on and Clarke and Mullaney easily saw out the closing overs against the all spin attack. Notts though have got a mountain to climb to save this match with another scorching day awaiting tomorrow. MAG

Day 2

BEARS GIVING NOTTS A MAULING

Warwickshire finished the second day in a position of complete dominance in a chastening day for Notts. The Bears declared on a mammoth 571-9 thirty minutes after Lunch. Hameed and Slater survived 15 overs on the flat deck, but then followed an all too familiar batting collapse 51-0 became 58-4 in 9 overs spread across the tea interval. Worst followed when James fell just before an electrical storm that halted proceedings at 16:56 with Notts on 82-5 with 22.2 overs remaining on the day. Warwickshire currently lead by 489 runs as their quartet of pacemen had completely out bowled their Notts counterparts.

Ball (Radcliffe Road End) and Paterson opened the bowling this morning. In the 101st over, Briggs (20) hit the ball hard and fast straight back to Jake Ball who took an excellent return catch, 382 for 6. This proved a false dawn as Warwickshire made hay in their searing heat scoring 163 runs in the opening session of 32 overs to take Notts out of the contest.

Hutton replaced Ball for the 105th over. An edged four by Burgess off Paterson saw the Bears passed 400 in the 106th over. James replaced Paterson from the Pavilion End in the 108th over. Warwickshire 425 for 6 after 110 overs only two bowling points for Notts and given what happened later probably the only two they will take from this one-sided contest. Harrison was given a bowl in the 113th over. The 50 partnership between Barnard and Burgess was achieved in 79 balls. Mullaney replaced James for the 116th over. Barnard, on the reverse sweep, was bowled by a full toss from Harrison for 41, 445 for 7 in the 119th over. The 7th wicket stand between Burgess and himself worth 63 in 16 overs. Hasan Ali came in and blazed a trail of destruction tucking into Harrison and Mullaney. Hasan Ali hit his second ball he faced for 6 over mid-wicket, Harrison the bowler. In the 122nd over, he mistimed Mullaney but with James stationed in no man’s land between mid-on and long on the ball tantalising sailed just over the backpedalling James’ head and the ball landing just inside the rope. The next ball was smashed for six over square leg. In his next over Mullaney was hit by the Pakistani for another 6 over mid-wicket to bring up the 50 partnership in 41 balls. A four for Burgess through long leg off the are Mullaney over brought up the Warwickshire 500 in the 124th over. Hasan Ali hit Harrison for a straight six. Another six from Hasan Ali off Harrison saw him race to 50 off 35 balls. Burgess reached his 50 off 76 balls off the last ball before lunch bowled by Mullaney. Warwickshire 524 for 7 off 128 overs at the interval with Hasan Ali on 54 and Burgess on 50.


The Bears resisted the temptation to declare and rubbed the Notts noses further in the dirt adding a further 47 runs after lunch. Hasan Ali (54 off 36 balls, 3x4, 5x6) fell in the first over after lunch. He mistimed a legside shot and with a long time hanging in the air the ball was caught by Montgomery falling backwards having come in from the mid-wicket ropes off Harrison, 525 for 8. The 8th wicket had raised a further 80 in 12 overs. An edged four by Rushworth off Harrison saw Warwickshire to 550 in the 133rd over. Rushworth (20) was well caught by Hameed low down running in from the point ropes as Harrison picked up his 4th wicket, 567 for 9 in the 135th over. Mullaney replaced Paterson who had bowled from the Pavilion End since lunch and Burgess hit his second ball to the mid-wicket boundary at which point Warwickshire immediately declared at 571 for 9 off 135.2 overs with Burgess on 77 not out (off 100 balls, 12x4). Harrison finished with career best figures of 4 for 138. The two star Notts bowlers of 2023 Hutton and Paterson both carried little threat today, a combination of the heat, tiredness and the three week break between championship fixtures not helping matters. Ball (3-67) presumably on a bowling ration only bowled 4 overs today, to add to his 13 he delivered yesterday had been the best bowler on show.

Rushworth (Pavilion End) and Hannon-Dalby opened the bowling and Hameed and Slater despite some playing and missing looked relatively comfortable. Ed Barnard came on from the Radcliffe Road End in the 12th over and his first two overs went for 18. Hasan Ali came on for the 13th over. Hameed on 24 played on to Hasan Ali, luckily for Hameed it was no ball. The 50 partnership between Hameed and Slater came up in 88 balls as Hameed hit Hasan Ali to the mid-wicket ropes. But Notts are seemingly never far from a collapse and in the next over, Slater on 19 edged Barnard to Yates at first slip who took a simple catch, 51 for 1 in the 16th over. Another failure for Slater. Hameed fell in the following over caught behind by Burgess off Hasan Ali for 28, 51 for 2. Hameed attempting a drive with an angled bat inside edged it to the keeper. A poor shot. Three overs later Hannon-Dalby replaced Barnard from the Radcliffe Road End. Clarke lasted 15 deliveries before being bowled off stump by Hasan Ali for 2, 53 for 3 off 21 overs. The match had turned in an instant Notts limping to tea on 54 for 3 in 22 overs with Montgomery on 4 and James on 0.

It got worse after tea. A dreadful shot from Montgomery (3) saw him top edge a pull shot off a Rushworth delivery to Hasan Ali at mid-on who took an easy catch, 58 for 4 in the 25th over. Montgomery in outstanding batting form in 2023 presumably thinking he was decked out in his green and gold Thunderbird outfit rather than the traditional whites.

Mullaney faced 12 balls without scoring then hit Rushworth for successive legside sixes to reduce the deficit to under 500. But any thoughts of a fightback were dispelled just two balls later with James failing to move his feet and snicking an off-stump delivery from Hannon-Dalby to Burgess behind the stumps, 74 for 5 in the 30th over. With thunder overhead and lightning to the south east the umpires took the players off with Notts 82 for 5 off 31.4 overs with Mullaney on 13 and Moores on 5. The only piece of luck Notts had had all day.

A bedraggled and bewildered Notts have only pride to play for now. With an extra 8 overs added on tomorrow’s play, The Bears will be looking to put their feet up on Wednesday and win with a day to spare to put pressure on leaders Surrey. Notts, probably without Duckett for the rest of the season are in absolutely desperate need of an overseas batsman, the current batting line up has been shown not to be up to First Division standard. The games against Middlesex (home), Somerset (away) and Kent (home and away) will be the key encounters going forwards. MAG

 

Day 1 

HARD DAY'S GRAFT FOR NOTTS AS DOMINANT BEARS BUILD SOLID PLATFORM

Warwickshire dominated the first day after winning the toss in ideal batting conditions. They closed a day of relentless sunshine on 361 for 5 off 96 overs with three batsmen standing out Alex Davies (93), Sam Hain (100) and Dan Mousley (87). Jake Ball was Notts best bowler today taking the first two wickets to fall to end with 2-52 off 13 overs. The rest of the Notts attack were workmanlike but failed to get much out of the wicket and they tired in the 28-degree heat with Hain and Mousley adding 171 for the 4th wicket in 39 overs before Notts removed both batsmen in the closing overs to give the home supporters a bit of late cheer.

Ball played his first championship match since New Road last season as Moores was passed fit, after his injury scare at Derby on Friday. There was no place in the final eleven for either Ben Martindale and Toby Pettman.

Hutton (Radcliffe Road End) and Ball opened the bowling. Although the pitch had a green tinge it never misbehaved, Notts having amassed 662-5d versus Durham on the same surface in the last match of last season. There was a stoppage in the 8th over as Ball struck Davies on the right hand. Ball getting plenty of bounce early doors with the new ball. Paterson replaced Hutton for the following over. An excellent full delivery from Ball moved late and found the edge of Yates’ (13) bat, Moores taking the catch. Ball's 200th first-class wicket for Notts, Warwick 23 for 1 in the 10th over.

After a spell of 6-2-17-1, Ball made way for Hutton from the Pavilion End. After a wicket less five over spell for Paterson, James replaced him from the Radcliffe Road End. Yates and Rhodes were looking increasingly comfortable. The Bears 50 came up in the 20th over. Paterson changed ends from the 24th over. The 50 partnership between Davies and Rhodes came up in 89 balls via an edged four by Rhodes off James. Mullaney bowled the last over before lunch. Warwickshire 91 for 1 off 27 overs at the interval with Davies on 45 and Rhodes on 31. It was already looked like it would be hard day for Notts.

In the first over after lunch, Rhodes (37) had his bailed shaved shouldering arms to Ball, 97 for 2 in the 27th over. The second wicket had added 74 in 18 overs. Ball was bowling in tandem with Paterson, the Warwickshire 100 coming up in the 30th over. Next over, Davies got to his 50 off 89 balls with a single off Ball. James replaced Ball for the 36th over. The 50 partnership between Davies and Hain came up in 93 deliveries as Notts maintained an all-pace attack. Harrison, who replaced Hutton from the Radcliffe Road End, was finally given a bowl in the 45th over with Hutton immediately changing ends. The Bears 150 came up in the 46th over. Harrison got the vital breakthrough getting Davies leg before for 93 (off 157 balls, 13x4) via a full delivery from the leg spinner, 169 for 3 in the 51st over. Mullaney returned the following over. Mousley hit the first six of the day over long on off Harrison. Montgomery came on from the Radcliffe Road End six overs before tea so Harrison could change ends and had Hain edging a boundary off his third and then a four through backward point with the 200 being reached. Hain hit the last ball of the over for a lofted boundary towards long on, 12 off the over. the 50 partnership between Hain and Mousley had taken 66 balls. Warwickshire were 227 for 3 off 64 overs at the second interval with Hain on 45 and Mousley on 30.

Warwickshire accelerated after tea adding a further 134 in 32 overs, left-hander Mousley being the dominant partner. Paterson and Harrison were bowling straight after tea. Hain reached his 50 off 109 balls. The Warwickshire 250 came up in the 72nd over. James replaced Paterson for the following over. Mousley reached 50 in 78 balls. Hain and Mousley reached the 100 partnership for the 4th wicket in 159 balls. Montgomery bowled the 79th over. With the new ball imminent, a rare attacking shot from Hain saw him hit Harrison for 6 over long on.

The new ball was taken with Warwickshire 292 for 3 off 80 overs. Warwickshire reached their 300 off the first over with the new ball via an edged four by Mousley off Hutton. The 150 partnership came up after 207 balls. Paterson and James returned for the 88th and 89th overs respectively. Mousley (87 off 113 balls, 10x4, 1x6) charging down the pitch inside edged a delivery from Paterson to Moores, 340 for 4 in the 90th over. Mousley falling seven short his first-class best. A single off a leg glance saw Hain to his 100 off 190 balls, Paterson the bowler. Next over, Hain (100 off 192 balls, 8x4, 1x6) was comprehensively bowled via a corker from James that ripped out his off stump 348 for 5 in the 93rd over. Hain so often a thorn in Notts side during white ball encounters had scored his first first-class ton against Notts in his tenth outing against Notts. His record 576 runs @38.40. Barnard (12 not out) and Briggs (4 not out) saw out the final 22 deliveries of a sweltering day with stumps being drawn at 18:41. MAG

Great news for Notts supporters, Brett Hutton is back in the squad:

Ben Slater
Haseeb Hameed
Joe Clarke
Matt Montgomery
Lyndon James
Steven Mullaney
Tom Moores
Calvin Harrison
Brett Hutton
Jake Ball
Dane Paterson
Toby Pettman
Ben Martindale

... no Liam Patterson-White alas, owing to injury.

Also included is Jake Ball as well as Toby Pettman and Ben Martindale; should either of the latter two play then that would be their first class debut(s) for Notts.