Patel Stands alone!

Championship cricket returned to The Dump for the first time since Notts memorably won the title their 20 months ago. Unfortunately it was not such a glorious day for Notts as another poor batting effort ensured that Lancashire were well on top at the end of first day.

A crowd of around 1,500 turned up on a day of sunshine and surprisingly for Manchester no rain. The ground was not fit for the game, the crowd were forced to go into stand running from the pavilion to the old sight screen at the Warwick Road end, everywhere else was out of bounds. The New Brian Statham End was a massive building site, the seats below the hideous Point were being replaced and The Pavilion was being refurnished. The old shop has been converted in to small bar/lunch room. The toilet facilities were poor. All in all it appeared from the outside looking in that the members had been treated with total contempt. The players appeared from converted accomodation from the old Stretford End and the first time since 12 months previously, Broad and Swann made appearances in the Green and Gold in place of Mullaney and Gurney. Fletcher was replaced by The General.

Notts won the toss and elected to bat, Jimmy Anderson (Pavilion) and Glenn Chapple (Statham) opened up on the rotated square. They toyed with Edwards like a cat with a mouse and the outcome was most as predictable, Edwards gone for one edged four playing on and being outclassed. All the Notts batting line up had made first-class tons, but the accurancy of the Lancashire attack was too much for them as the run rate crawled at barely a run an over. The normally free scoring Hales was reined in, but he was somewhat unlucky to be given leg before by Rob Bailey to Chapple to a ball going down the legside. Hales gone for nine, 15 for two in the 12^th over.   

Lumb edged Chapple to Anderson in the gully, who parried the ball to ex-Notts player Prince who caught the ball on the riochet, 16 for three. Anderson appeared to get Patel plumb leg before for a duck, but to the surprise of every one umpire's, Gale’s, finger failed to rise. A lucky escape as Taylor and Patel saw Notts to lunch on 50 for three, the score bolstered somewhat by three no balls from Tom Smith who limped off with a hamstring injury. Anderson had also left the field to get his thumb X-rayed, fortunately for England there was no break and he returned later.

Chapple returned after the break, Taylor (15) edged him to slip, 50 for four. It was time for Read to repair the damage once again and with Patel added 33 runs. Proctor came on and Read going for the drive got an inside edge and played on as Notts were now 83 for five. Franks put his head down and survived 16 overs but slow left armer Kerrigan got him via the bat/pad as Franks went for 11, as Notts lost their sixth wicket on Nelson. Next ball Broad fell to catch at short leg by Croft, Broad clearly thinking the ball had been taken on the half volley refused to move, but after a brief conference between Gale and Bailey, Broad was on his way. Swann lasted six balls before departing leg before as Kerrigan got his third wicket. Once again the batsman was reluctant to go, as Notts were now in disarray at 121 for eight. Patel who had played with great sense and patience reached probably his slowest half century in 150 balls. He eventually opened up and hit a huge six into the building site as the ball was replaced. Next ball Patel was caught on the long off ropes by substitute Saj Mahmood as Proctor picked up his second wicket. Patel out for 69 off 172 balls with five fours and one six. Kerrigan picked up his fourth wicket as Adams was stumped by Cross as Notts were all out for a paltry 169, and failed once again to pick up a batting point. Lancashire had bowled well with the ever reliable Chapple being the star with 19-5-44-4 and being well supported by Kerrigan with 22.4-6-45-4. Anderson did not bowl a bad ball but surprisingingly did not take a wicket as his 17 overs cost just 23 runs.

Lancashire had 15 overs to face, but with the rusty Broad bowling from the Pavilion End having problems with his length and line got off to a rapid start, Swann bowled a couple overs from the Statham end late on, but in the last over Adams got Horton leg before for 24, as the Red Rose closed on 48 for one. Notts must restrict the champions to a total of 250 or under to stay in the game, not impossible given the pitch and the strength of the bowling attack. The outcome of the game could also hinge on how many overs Andy Flower will allow the bruised Anderson in the second innings.  MAG