v Scotland 2012

"Singing in the dreep"

A combination of bad luck and bad team selection led to Notts suffering a humiliating defeat against Scotland by the Duckworth/Lewis Method. The defeat was the first ever against minor opposition in the clubs history.

Despite a truly appalling forecast the game was played without interruption until stumps were drawn in the driving rain at 1812. The crowd numbered around 200 and they all had to brave the elements on an extremely cold day in the Scottish capital.

On a typical low and slow wicket at the Grange, the team selection was bizarre in the extreme. The resting of Andre Adams was understandable, but instead of the obvious selections of Phillips and Fletcher; Franks and Carter were promoted. Gurney given his record in limited overs cricket was a more obvious selection. The end result was that Scotland got off to a too good a start and because they had not lost a wicket, there were always ahead on the Vera calculations. Patel, White and Mullaney were belatedly introduced but by then the damage had been done, despite the run rate slowing. In mitigation, Notts had the gross handicap of bowling through 23 overs of light drizzle which meant bowling and fielding in very damp conditions, Scotland had won an extremely important toss.

Notts got off to a poor start with Hales playing a dreadful heave and missing and departing bowled by Parker for 13. Next over the returning Wessels was caught in the covers for a single off Derbyshire trialist Alasdair Evans. Lumb got to 26 before chasing a wide one from Berrington to be caught behind for 26, 59 for three. Taylor and Patel added 43 in nine overs until Patel threw it away holing out against Haq’s off spin for 36. Taylor and Read just like at Old Trafford scampered a useful partnership as boundaries were hard to find because of slow pitch, tight bowling and the long and slow outfield. They added 51 before Taylor (36) holed out to become Haq’s second victim.  Read cleared the ropers but next ball was caught on the boundary off Middlesex all-rounder Josh Davey, Read out for an excellent 59 off 50 balls. Mullaney (26 not out) put bat to ball and Notts innings closed on 219 for seven wickets, a total that should have secured victory.

The dark clouds arrived at teatime and Scotland started their innings in intermittent drizzle. Notts bowling was not accurate enough and because it had more pace than their opposition run scoring was easier. 

Davey who survived a hard slip chance by Hales off Gurney early doors and later a much easier chance by Lumb on the deep square leg boundary finished on 43. Former Warwickshire player Calum MacLeod was the more impressive of the openers finishing on 58 as Scotland had reached 108 for 0 off 23 overs when the rain got harder. Umpires Garrett and Grim Tim having no option but to take the players off with Scotland 18 runs ahead of Vera’s par score. Notts performance had matched the dismal, cold and wet weather. Franks was decidedly off colour, indeed one delivery sailed over Read’s head as the ball (or was it a bar of soap) slipped out of The General’s fingers it was immediately replaced but alas it did not make a slightest difference. A day to forget for the Green and Gold.

Dreep = steady light rain