Day 2 v Sussex at Trent Bridge LV=

VOTE NOW - THE OUTLAW'S BEST BOWLER 2011 WAS...................................
HALES REACHES LANDMARK FOR THE FIRST TIME

Only five wickets fell for the addition 308 runs on another windswept day as bat dominated ball in another day lacking the normal intensity of championship cricket. After being fed short balls by Fletcher, Arif fell in the eleventh over of day edging the Bulwell’s finest into captain’s gloves for 30, 354 for seven. Amjad Khan was then badly dropped by Hales at first slip off Franks whilst on five and made Notts pay as 59 was added for the eighth wicket with seemingly irremovable Goodwin picking off the bad balls. On stroke of the lunch the Zimbabwean cut Shreck to Mullaney in the gulley to finally depart for 170 off 329 balls with 21 fours, another monumental innings from a batsman who rarely fails by the banks of the Trent, 413 for eight. Notts came out flat after lunch with Franks and White proving easy fare for Anyon and Khan, Adams had to return once again to wipe out the tail. Anyon edged the Kiwi to Read for 38, 475 for nine. Finally Khan was out leg before to Adams for 65 as Sussex were all out for 488, as Notts collected only two bowling points.  Adams seasonal wicket total now stands at 67, one less than last year’s effort has he took his seventh five wicket haul of the season with five for 110. Hales got the reply off to a rapid start as Notts stood on 54 for 0 off 11 overs at tea.  He also reached 1,000 runs for the season when on 27. Unfortunately after tucking in Panesar he got frustrated and in the former England tweaker’s next over  as after three drives were stopped in the ring, he attempted to hit Panesar over the top but was caught by Ed Joyce at mid-on, Hales out for a 53-ball 49. Bravo joined fellow left-hander Karl Turner and both found Panesar’s bowling from the Pavilion End a handful. But Turner gritted his teeth and reached his maiden 50 off 113 balls, an innings which should see him gain a contract for next season. After brief shower at 1700, the play was resumed 20 minutes later so with no play lost as Notts closed on 132 for one, still 356 runs behind, Turner unbeaten 52. Let’s hope they have better third day then at Birmingham where in a similar position they lost 15 wickets in the day.

Sussex First Innings
488 (146.5 ov)

Another 5-fer

Goodwin 170
Machan 71
Amjad Khan 65


Adams 5/110
Shreck 3/92
Fletcher 2/103


Nottinghamshire First Innings
132/1 (44 ov)


Turner 52*
Hales 49
Bravo 17*

A first 50

Panesar 1/37*

Caption Competition 10

NOTTS WIN TROPHY

Notts Second Eleven have won the Second Eleven Trophy competition going unbeaten through-out the whole tournament.


In today's final at Liverpool Scott Elstone 69*, Neil Edwards 49 and Sam Kelsall 34 saw Notts home to their target of 193.

Last chance for some to shine.

 Director Newell has elected to give Charlie Shreck one final hoo-rah before he departs for the South-East, Darren Pattinson making way for him in the eleven.

Karl Turner has one last match to prove himself up to Division One standard, currently his best is a, below expectations, 40.


Darren Bravo is another one who hasn't fulfilled promise to date; reputedly striking the ball well but yet to make it count. DB needs to stand out, being the overseas player, to be worth his salt.


Steven Mullaney is set also to play in an eleven where hopes were for Scott Elstone to have the opportunity to make an impact, Mull05 hasn't been contributing enough to warrant selection in the eyes of many observers in recent matches.


This viewer would have liked to have seen Sam Wood in place of Graeme White, a move that would strengthen the batting which is clearly unmotivated and playing out time at the end of an up and down season but the Director isn't one for blooding the youngsters in the championship.

Another view across the border

Day 4 v Warwickshire LV= at Edgbaston

HALES CARRIES HIS BAT AS NOTTS FOLD

Quality - a rare commodity! 

It took 82 minutes for Warwickshire to complete victory over Notts at Edgbaston this morning with Alex Hales carrying his bat with an undefeated 106 not out. He became the first Notts opener to do so, since Jason Gallian against Surrey at Trent Bridge in 2003. He now needs seven runs in the final match against Sussex to complete 1,000 runs for the season in Nottinghamshire matches alone. Chris Read currently stands on 917 runs and Samit Patel has 887 runs.

Paul Franks fell to the sixth ball of the day edging Rikki Clarke to Metters at third slip. Three overs later, Adams bottomed edged a ball from Wright onto his stumps to depart for six. Pattinson survived 31 balls and managed three boundaries before being yorked by Wright, who had now picked up his five wickets in the innings.

Fletcher joined Hales with the score at 178 for 9, with 15 still needed for the ton.  With careful farming of the strike Hales got there off 169 balls with 12 fours. Once the ton was reached Fletcher was given carte blanche to go for his shots and hoisted Rankin for a six over mid-wicket.

Metters was finally introduced as Warwick turned to spin for the first time in the match. Off his fourth ball Fletcher pulled a long hop straight to Porterfield at cover, as Notts were all out for 222. Warwickshire had triumphed by innings and 114 runs and well placed to win their first title in seven years.

Nottinghamshire Second Innings


222 all out (60.4 ov)


Alex Hales 106*
Bravo 28
Fletcher 20
Mr Extras 20

Why is Rankin not playing in Ireland's
current fixture against Namibia?

Why isn't  Chris Wright playing
 for Essex in Division Two?

Wright 5/74

Rankin 3/63

Warwickshire won by an innings and 114 runs

Day 3 v Warwickshire LV= at Edgbaston

NOTTS FOLLOW-ON AND FOLLOW A PREDICTABLE PATH TOWARDS DEFEAT

In an action packed third day a fired Warwickshire tore in the ever brittle Notts batting line up to set up a possible championship triumph. Notts lost 16 wickets for 288 in 92 madcap overs. Unlike the previous two days the ball started to swing as the strong winds were replaced by much more humid conditions. Furthermore  the much taller and more motivated Warwickshire bowlers extracted pace and bounce on a wicket which seemed soporific on the first two days. The day started serenely with no hint of what was to come, with Hales and Bravo adding a further 47 runs  in 12 overs, literally the calm before the storm. The turning point seemed to a run out mix-up between the two batsman where bowler Woakes failed to hold a return throw from Ian Westwood, with Hales out of his ground by yards. This incident appeared to fluster Hales and straight after he chased a wide one from Woakes to caught by Chopra at first slip. Hales departing for 72.  Next over Wessels edged the hostile Clarke to Chopra at first slip to depart for a four-ball duck. Enter the out of sorts Mullaney who was somewhat fortunate to retain his place ahead of the deserving Elstone. The Bears had done their homework and gave him a barrage of short balls which have proved his downfall too many times this year.  It was one shortish ball that Mullaney inadvertently trod on his leg stump while attempting a single. Mullaney out hit wicket, 171 for four. Bravo meanwhile had reached his maiden championship half-century as Notts limped to lunch on 184 for four off 51 overs with much worse to follow. Straight after the interval, Read edged the excellent Woakes into Ambrose’s gloves. In his next over, Franks was plumb leg before for a duck as Notts were now 186 for six. Bravo after a promising innings threw it all away skying Clarke to deep extra cover boundary having made 70 with eleven fours. Bravo has much more flair that than the doughty Voges, but alas not yet his concentration. Graeme White must have played and missed two dozen times but showed plenty phlegm as he stood as a spectator to Adams usual pyrotechnics. The Kiwi took his six count to 31, although the second of his two sixes was carried over the ropes by Chopra on the deep mid-wicket boundary. This was a brief interlude of fun for Notts. White finally found his the edge of his bat as he was caught at second slip by Clarke off the brisk Essex loanee Wright. Pattinson hit a four but lifted Clarke straight to Chanderpaul in the covers. Three balls later Adams was bowled following an almighty slog as Wright picked up his second wicket. Adams gone for 34 as Notts were all out for 238, 336 runs in arrears. Woakes picked up four for 91 as Notts now stared certain defeat in the face. Turner running out of innings to earn a full-time contract was perhaps unlucky to be given out caught behind off from a rising ball from Rankin bowling from the City End. Notts went to tea on 47 for one, as Warwickshire stiffs paraded the second XI championship shield to the large crowd during the interval. The light was closing in and the players were taken off for bad light as light rain began to fall. Many of the crowd departed but the light surprisingly improved and play re-started at 1715 in what proved to be Happy Hour for The Bears. Bravo was appeared to be out caught off his pads by umpire Cook to depart officially caught Ambrose bowled Wright for 28, 100 for two. Wessels lasted five balls before edging Chris Wright to third slip. The bouncer barrage returned for Mullaney who gave Rankin a return catch trying to pull a lifter from the Irishman only to put the ball into orbit. White who struggled so much only hours earlier was inexplicitly brought in as night watchman with predictable results falling leg before to Wright. The conveyor belt continued as Read edged Rankin to depart for a duck. Franks hit a couple of fours as Notts closed on a truly miserable 136 for six, still trailing by 200 runs. Hales meanwhile stood alone on the burning deck to finish on a composed 69 not out an untroubled innings amongst all the carnage. Without Patel on international duty, Hales is truly head and shoulders above the rest of the batting line up. The day was a classic mismatch between one very determined side against a team with little to play for. What was apparent though as ever what the brittleness of Notts batting with Wessels, Mullaney and Turner looking particularly out of their depth. One thing for certain is that Notts cannot cope without an overseas batter any statements to the contrary is akin to a Turkey voting for Christmas!

Nottinghamshire First Innings

The hired help from Essex

238 all out (69.1 ov)


Hales 72
Bravo 70
Adams 34


Woakes 4/91
Clarke 3/45
Wright  2 /47


Nottinghamshire Second Innings
136/6 (41 0v)


Hales 69*
Bravo 28
Mr Extras 16*


Rankin 3/41*
Wright 3/43*

Edgbaston Groundscape 2

Day 2 v Warwickshire LV= at Edgbaston

3 TONS AS BEARS WEIGH HEAVY ON NOTTS

Notts go into the third day of this fixture at Birmingham 488 runs behind with nine first innings wickets remaining.

A belated acceleration saw Warwickshire pile up a massive 574 for seven declared, but earlier far over-cautious batting on this featherbed pitch saw The Bears miss out on two gift-wrapped bonus points. Furthermore by batting up to 70 minutes of the second day close their only route for victory lies in bowling Notts out twice, whereas an earlier declaration would have left them with an insurance option of setting up a run chase.

Play surprisingly began on time despite the stygian gloom, but umpires Cook and O’Shaughnessy took the players off 24 minutes in to widespread Brummie rants. After a 10 minute stoppage the players came back for another two overs before bad light and then light drizzle drove the players off for an early lunch.

Play continued uninterrupted from 1255 onwards without further loss of play so the crowd got 84 overs for their ration. Progress was initially slow and steady and with the score on 291 in the 99^thover, Westwood’s massive innings was terminated as he pulled a shot off Fletch straight to The General at long leg.  The partnership between captain’s former and present had added 177 in 50 overs. Westwood’s 171 took 307 balls and included 23 fours. Tiny Tim blasted a quick fire 25 off 33 balls before edging Franks to Hales at first slip, with Ambrose’s departure Warwick stood at 337 for five with one over left to get their fourth batting point. Next over, Clarke played out White as if his life depended on it and Warwick had a miserable three batting points on the very easy paced pitch.

The introduction of Clarke though gave the soporific innings much needed impetus as White and Mullaney leaked runs before tea as 117 runs were added in the 20 overs as Warwick went in on 454 for five.

With a mixed weather forecast for Saturday, a teatime declaration seemed the sensible option, but the home side batted a further 15 overs as another 120 runs were added at eight an over as Notts faced a follow-on target of 425 in their first innings. Clarke raced to his ton in just 90 balls as White and Franks were given severe tap. Clarke who had 18 fours and four sixes was finally out for 126 caught on the deep square leg ropes by Bravo. Two overs later Troughton’s 259 ball vigil ended when he played round a delivery from White to depart bowled for 151 an innings that included 19 fours. Still Warwick ground on for another four overs as they finally declared at 1640 on 574 for seven declared, their highest ever against the Green and Gold. Adams for once was wicketless as there were two wickets apiece for White, Fletcher and Pattinson.

The ease of the pitch could be gauged in many ways as Troughton and Westwood both got their first two tons for two seasons but more obviously as Notts put on extremely rare half-century opening partnership. Turner though is now running out of innings as he edged Woakes to Chopra at slip who took a catch low down as the Geordie parted for 19, 54 for one. Despite a few false strokes Hales was unbeaten on 51 as Notts closed on 86 for one off 21 overs. If they show sufficient application this match should be saved but first of all they have a run mountain to climb.

Warwickshire First Innings  
574/7 dec (144 ov)


Westwood 171
Troughton 151
Clarke 126


Pattinson 2/65
Fletcher 2/97
White 2/145


Nottinghamshire First Innings
86/1


Hales 51*
Turner 19
Bravo 8*


Woakes 1/39

Vote Now

Who was the Notts One Day Cricket Batsman of the Season?


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