Notts Dominate in the Battle of Uxbridge

After completing dominating their encounter against Middlesex heavy rain appears to be scuppering Notts chances of a deserved victory.

A heavy downpour on Tuesday night resulted in a 45 minute delay to the commencement of activities Wednesday, but conditions for spectators a foot where the worse I can ever remember; the surrounds more suited to a World War 1 battlefield. If mud wrestling was an Olympic sport Park Road, Uxbridge would undoubtedly be the venue. With continuous rain now having fallen for ten hours and the ground car park now not operational, logic suggests play will not recommence.

The ground staff cannot be praised highly enough, the Middlesex second XI game at nearby Radlett has yet to start. Luckily they had been given a water hog to use and the covers were more substantial than is the norm on a club venue..

Read won the toss and had no second thoughts in inserted the hosts. Phillips was preferred to Pattinson and any questions of Adams rustiness after a month’s rest soon dissipated. In the fifth over of the day, Phillips got Sam Robson nicking the ball to the captain, five for one. Gurney bowling a good spell from the Gatting Way end took the next two wickets, Rogers (5) edging to Voges at slip, and Joe Denly falling in identical fashion without troubling the scorers 24 for three. The pitch was a low seamer and once Adams had hold the ball from the Gatting Way End it was obvious that wickets would tumble. In his very first over, Malan edged to Hales who took a good low catch at first slip. Keeper John Simpson went for a golden duck as Adams got one to move and bowl him, 34 for five. Strauss stood alone and was gritting it out and found an ally in Gareth Berg the South African Brit who plays for Italy!

Middlesex lunched on 46 for five but found things easier as the pitch seemed to be losing some of its venom. The sixth wicket partnership eventually reached 53 in 20 overs until a peach of ball from Adams clean bowled the England captain for 50. The rest of Middlesex were simply washed away as the innings duck count reached five. Ollie Rayner the TB centurion lasted five balls before being caught behind. Carter who has now shaved his Mohawk joined the party as Murtagh edged him to Hales at slip. Adams removed the last two, Berg falling leg before for a patient 32 and Collymore lasting two balls before edging to Patel. Middlesex final five wickets had fallen for one run in 16 balls! Middlesex 98 all out Adams the undoubted best bowler in the league had figures of 11.4-2-32-6.

Wessels and Hales added 24, before Hales (14) from nearby Hillingdon was adjudged leg before by umpire Bodenham off Corey Collymore. Lumb once again in fine form added 49 with Riki Wessels before the later edged the accurate Gareth Berg to Simpson to depart for 34. Patel (18) who hit four fours did not last long before falling leg before to Murtagh. James Taylor with an exceptional record against the Londoners disappointed and left caught behind for three. Lumb and Voges added 12 before the premature close at 1800 with Notts 16 to the good on 114 for four. 19 overs had been lost.

Play got away on time on Thursday in bright sunshine as Lumb fell after 30 minutes batting edging the persevering Murtagh into Simpson’s gloves; Lumb’s 50 occupied 120 balls and contained five fours. Despite the sun the outfield was still extremely slow and boundaries were in short supply. Voges was badly dropped on 11 by Rayner at slip, Toby Roland-Jones being the unlucky bowler. Read was also grassed on 15 as the experienced pair batted exceptionally well to add 143 runs in 39 overs, but once the second new ball was taken batting got much more difficult again. Voges reached only his third championship ton for Notts in 167 balls.

Read on 71 received a ball from Roland-Jones which popped up giving him a simple return catch. Phillips lasted eight balls until the butter fingered Rayner finally got as catch as Roland-Jones got his second wicket.

Adams innings was entirely predictable the first ball; went for a towering six over long off, the second went for a four at square leg, ball three saw Ollie make another fine mess as he dropped the Kiwi at slip, ball four saw him bowled. Voges fell next over caught Simpson bowled Murtagh for 105 an innings which contained 11 fours. A real match winning effort. Gurney was leg before for 4 as Notts closed on 329 all out, as an early tea was taken with 40 overs remaining. Roland-Jones (24-4-102-4) and Murtagh (29-3-87-4) were chief destroyers.

Light rain started to fall during the interval and Lloyds and Bodenham ordered the covers on, play never resumed.

Today’s Met forecast promises  occasional sunny intervals, but also showers, and some of these are likely to become thundery and prolonged in places in the afternoon, especially to the northwest of London.

If play ever resumes I expect Adams to be handful against the surfeit of Middlesex left handers who clearly had little answers to his bowling. An innings victory seems likely.