Bowlers stage salvage-attempt

A new season but a familiar story, yet another woeful top order collapse was redeemed by a fine bowling performance as Notts finished day 1 of the season with honours even against relegation favourites. Worcester.

As expected Carter made way for Adams in an otherwise unchanged line up, as Mitchell won the toss and inserted Notts on a cloudy dank morning. Hales hit the third ball of the morning off Richardson to the cover boundary but off the next ball he chased a wide one only to edge to Solanki at first slip. Edwards meanwhile was extremely lucky to survive as he edged his first ball just short of Scott behind the stumps. With the score 17, Lumb received a good ball from our old friend Lucas, now on county number 4, as he edged to Scott to depart for three.  James Taylor fresh from his debut ton played a poor shot and was caught at point off right armer Jones for four. Two balls later Wessels edged to slip as Notts were 26 for four after 50 minutes.  Read swished at Jones and departed for four as Notts were now 36 for five.

The sun came out and batting became easier as the crowd remained wrapped up to protect against the Spring chill, the top temperature of the day was a bone numbing 8 degrees C. Edwards and Franks added 40 in 13 overs, until the former who never looked convincing fell to an innocuous ball from off spinner Ali to depart on the stroke of lunch for a 76-ball 21. Notts lunched on an unpalatable 74 for six.

Despite Franks playing well and looking confident it did not get much better after the resumption, Phillips edged to Solanki. White at least put some runs on the board before departing for 19 playing a dreadful shot to be caught at point off Jones, 115 for eight. Adams defended his first ball but hit the second ball into the stratosphere only to be caught by Kervezee on the run. Fletcher also made a duck as he edged Jones to slip. Notts had a made a woeful 118 all out with Franks putting the wicket into true perspective with an untroubled 51 off 83 balls including seven fours. Richard Jones aided and abetted by the Notts batsman finished with six for 32.

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Notts had a mountain climb to stay in the match. With the score of 15, Phillips who bowled well throughout had the Worcester captain leg before for eight. Eighteen runs later he knocked out Solanki’s off peg. Adams replaced Fletcher and immediately had left-hander Ali edging to Read. South Australia right-hander Michael Klinger was next to depart as he edged Fletcher (who had changed ends) into Read’s gloves, as he departed for 29 as what was to become the highest score of the innings.  

Zimbabwean Cameron was dismissed next over as Read picked up his third catch, Adams the bowler, 45 for five. Kervezee who hit very good 100 in last year’s fixture got to 18 until being clean bowled by Fletcher straight after tea, 67 for six. Scott was leg before to Phillips. Ten overs later Choudhry fell leg before to Franks now bowling from the Radcliffe Road end, after four mediocre overs from the pavilion end. Lucas edged Fletcher to slip. Finally Richardson edged The General into the captain’s hands, as the day closed with Worcester 130 all out, with a lead of 12. All the Notts seamers had bowled well with Phillips finishing with three for 29.

Notts have to negotiate the first hour this morning in order to get a foothold on the match, another batting collapse against mediocre opponents would be inexcusable.       

Nottinghamshire First Innings 118


Paul Franks 51 not out
Neil Edwards 21
Mr Extras 15


Richard Jones 6/32


Worcestershire First Innings 130 


Michael Klinger 29
Shaaiq Choudhry 20
David Lucas 17


Ben Phillips 3/29
Luke Fletcher 3/45
Paul Franks 2/23
Andre Adams 2/30


Stumps