New Ball is key!

A shoulder injury to key man Andre Adams and stubborn resistance from the “out of form” Murray Goodwin, ensured this match went into the last day delicately poised.

The first three days were played out in a glorious cloudless blue sky as the sun beated down relentless as the temperature was a steady 27 degrees throughout.

On a slow wicket with a touch of spin and uneven bounce it is crucial that you take wickets with the new ball which Notts will get 13 overs into today. Because of the slowless of the pitch a target of greater than four an over would be extremely trying, any batsman who has tried to go aerial does so at his peril as many Notts batsman found on Sunday morning where the fifth batting point remained elusive.

The first day was dominated by 145 run fifth wicket stand between Nash (128) and Wright (81). Both rode their luck, Nash was badly dropped by the returning Voges at slip when only 19 and Wright bail was shaved by Carter when 25, but unfortunately for the Lincolnshire poacher the bails remained on the stumps. Phillips deserved better than a single wicket as he beat the bat with regularity on the first morning. Gurney eventually beat Nash for pace but not before the Sussex opener had reached 128 off 203 balls with 15 fours. The Loughborough bowler once again had problems with his line as he struggled somewhat on the Hove slope. Highlight of the day from a Notts perspective was a brilliant one handed slip catch by Voges to remove Goodwin for a single off Adams who grabbed two wickets, Anyon being his other victim off the last ball of the day. Patel who has out bowled Panesar in the match snapped up four wickets as Sussex eventually were all out for 309 all out shortly into day 2. Too many Martlets were guilty of careless strokes, young Gatting being a particularly bad offender who took on Patel and came off second best when holing out to Lumb on the ropes. Luke Wright’s innings was the most impressive his 81 came off 132 balls before he clipped Patel to short mid on.

Notts got to an assured start as Hales in particular rode in his normal attacking instincts, trying to rid himself of the bad boy tag following his fine a week earlier for a late night out. Sussex bowling was steady but was less impressive than Notts’ effort on day 1. Wessels was quite simply magnificent on his dad’s former stomping ground; he was particularly impressive in the V, hitting one huge six into sparsely populated south stand which so far has 20 members who are daft enough to spend a grand for the privilege of sitting in a stand which spends most of the day in the shade. Hales was eventually removed by the mechanical Panesar bowled for 80, as Notts first wicket had added ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ONE, as expected Mr Edwards was not missed!

Nash who should been introduced far earlier removed Patel and Taylor cheaply late on in the day. Lumb had earlier made a stout 23 adding 95 for the second wicket with Wessels. Notts closed on 320 for 4 with Wessels 184 not out.

Notts needed a lead of at least of 100 as insurance against a wearing pitch on the last day they got there but not without a few scares. Voges (7)  and Phillips (6) were both guilty of reckless strokes trying to go over the top but only succeeded in being caught in the ring. Wessels meanwhile did a Gallian edging Aussie Magoffin one short of a deserved double century his innings comprised of 278 balls and included 33 fours and two sixes, the best innings by a Notts batsman this season. Adams biffed his way to 17; the Sussex captain employed a long stop as the Kiwi twice top edged the pacey Anyon for four. But Adams attacking instincts saw him depart to a catch at long leg. 

Carter showing better batting technique than expected nearly decapitated umpire Dougal Cowley as he sped to 17, but it was left to the captain to steer the Notts ship to an eventual lead of 119, before departing for 45 skying the returning Nash to Anyon. James Anyon picked up three expensive wickets to finish with three for 128. Nash picked up three for 23 off 10 overs as Panesar proved hard to get away but did not pick up any more wickets after removing Hales.

Joyce and Nash added 64, before the later was plumb leg before to Carter for 21. The gangling seamer had once again pitched far too short in the first innings, but decided to pitch the ball second innings and looked much more impressive exploiting the uneven bounce bowling uphill from the Sea End.  Next over Patel got one to spin and keep low as Ed Joyce departed bowled for 39. In the 23^rd over, 

Joe Gatting had his off stump removed by the vociferous Carter. Yardy became Carter’s third victim leg before for 17 as Sussex were 99 for four. On the train down, Sussex members were bemoaning Goodwin’s poor form, but against his favourite opposition he was never going to fail twice and he was ominously undefeated on 52 at the close with Luke Wright keeping him company for the remaining 30 overs of the day as the pair added 78. Adams was fielding with no obvious discomfort, whether he bowls today is open to conjecture, if he doesn’t much will depend on Carter and Patel. Gurney seemed ill at ease and once again was very wayward, Phillips meanwhile although very steady, lacks pace to take wickets on a pitch of such placid nature. If the new ball is successfully negotiated then expect Sussex to declare with 50 or so overs left. My worry is that with eight to eleven in Notts batting order unlikely to stick around on a last day pitch Panesar might cause havoc, as chasing a large target could prove futile. New ball wickets though could though lead to a relatively easy victory.
MAG