Damage Limitation v Somerset LV 2012

Just as the game was shaping into one where Somerset were secure but Notts could crumble and  lose, Adam Voges in his first over removes James Hildreth for 83. 

Happy Birthday Chris Read, 34 today!

Somerset lead by 69 with 2 wickets left

Bears meanwhile are cruising to victory and with 2 draws against Notts, the Championship. 117/1, 143 more runs needed.

Jonny Bairstow is looking to usurp James Taylor in the England Test eleven, 124 not out against the Aussie A and still going

New Ball Attack of Franks and Phillips

Not for the next game eh! Damage limitation for Notts today.
A dropped catch by Hales off Franks nearly allowed Somerset to reach their second batting bonus point but Swann, bowling with a new ball, snared Gemaal Hussain, 249 all out.

Notts 19/0 at lunch



Warwickshire's cruise has turned into a march. 157/1

Jonny Bairstow was out for 139

Had drinks duties to perform

Had sub
fielding to do.

As Notts near parity at 90/2 Wessels gone for 22 and Lumb for 17, Warwickshire have sprinted to a 7 wicket victory.

Tea time

Notts 109/2, Alex Hales 49 not out

Alex Hales goes for 54, 137/3

James Taylor is also given out LBW, 46, 155/4, 62 ahead, Chris Read now at the crease for the handshake should it arrive soon..

167/5 Read gone for 8, (74/5)


Marcus Trescothick prolonged the agony until 17:19 when hands were belatedly shaken.

Notts now 21 points behind Warwickshire in the table.

Do Warwickshire have a squad?

Is it right that Warwickshire look to the loan market for a replacement for Test bound Jeetan Patel - Gary Keedy or Ian Blackwell are in the frame! Who is their homegrown spinner?
Do the Bears have a squad? The loan market was for when you were short of numbers to make-up an eleven, like Bears' Johnson at Sheep as Poynton is crocked, or so I thought. In the past they've (Bears) used it (the loan system) to rob or was it relieve Derbyshire of badboy  Rikki Clarke. 

Over-looked or injured?
Hasn't bowled for 2nd XI
this year.

RHB

Rory Hamilton-Brown, has quit the captaincy of Surrey following the tragic death of of his old school friend and flat-mate Tom Maynard.
Gareth Batty takes over in both CB40 and Championship matches until the end of the season.

Notts Running out of steam(?)

Back in the side on a mission?

Notts can thank the weather gods in this one as after having losing a crucial toss they scraped a draw. 

After a virtual washout on day 1, they struggled in the 15.4 overs play allowed for on a frustrating day 2. Despite very low rainfall, the ground was saturated from previous day's deluge. More pro-active umpiring would have allowed for more play, however in retrospect the lengthy break was very much in Notts favour. Lumb (16) looking the more solid of the overnight pair departed to leg before decision off Thomas and Hales (12)  edged the same bowler to Trescothick at slip as Notts closed on 48 for three as the rain returned.

The final two days were played in glorious sunshine as Notts struggled to 156 all out despite an excellent 52 from the captain. Voges failed to add to his overnight score as he edged Thomas to Trescothick at slip. But luckily soon after the South African paceman limped off and did not bowl again in the match.

Taylor and Read gritted their teeth and added 72 in 15 overs, but the pitch was still giving plenty of assistance to the bowlers. Rehman was introduced at the Ian Botham End and with this second ball had Taylor (21) leg before sweeping. Notts then collapsed losing their last six wickets for 36 in 14 overs either side of lunch. The amount of assistance given to the bowlers can be gauged by the mediocre Hussain grabbing four of the last five wickets as he switched to the Old Pavilion End. Trescothick picked up his fourth catch at slip as Read’s fine 76-ball 52 ended. His innings included 10 fours and one six as he took advantage of the typical Taunton postage stamp size outfield. Phillips edged his fifth ball to third slip as the former Top Valley pupil Hussain got his second wicket of the over. Swann drove Hussain for four but on the last ball before lunch edged him to Trescothick who took his fifth catch, 148 for eight.

Adams was out off his first ball as he skied Hussain to Kirby who took the catch on the run at mid on. Gurney a genuine number 11 did not last long having his leg stump removed by Kirby. Franks meanwhile playing for the first time since early June was left stranded on 11, as Notts were out for a paltry 156. Mr Extras was second top scorer with 28.

Phillips removed Trescothick with his second ball as he was caught by Adams in the gulley. But the wicket was now drying out in the baking sun and batting was becoming a lot easier. Wessels was absent having dental surgery and when Gurney went lame with a side strain after six overs, Wayne Noon came on as thirteenth man. Carter having already replaced Wessels. 

Suppiah (35) and Jones (28) added 63 in 23 overs, before Adams bowling from the Old Pavilion End removed the pair in successive overs. Suppiah fell leg before and Jones pulled the Kiwi to mid on.

Adams though was struggling with a calf strain and limped off the pitch; he did return again briefly after tea but made no appearance on the field on the final day. Hildreth and Buttler prolific scorers in the past against Notts added 91 in 29 overs. Swann  looked ineffective and was hit for a six into the Marcus Trescothick stand and then lost his temper after an overthrow. One wag from NG23 suggested in no uncertain terms that Swann should concentrate in taking wickets rather than throw tantrums.

Paul Franks though was at his fighting best. Hildreth was extremely lucky to survive a leg before shout but The General picked up wickets in successive overs. First Buttler (39) edged to Hales at first slip and Gregory snicked the Farnsfield man into the captain’s gloves, 161 for five. Shortly before the close Trego edged Swann to Read to depart for eight. Somerset closed on 187 for six with Hildreth on 63 not out.

Somerset were too cautious on the final morning, as not for the first time Trescothick’s tactics were far too defensive. Swann dismissed Rehman in the fifth over of the morning the Pakistani falling to a fine running catch by Phillips at mid on.

Hildreth looking certain for his fifth ton against Notts fell to catch by Wessels at mid on off Voges bowling from the Old Pavilion End.   The Australian was only introduced to speed up the introduction of the second new ball. Hildreth out for 83 an innings that included 12 fours.

With the third delivery with the new ball, Thomas edged Phillips to Hales at first slip.  Next over, Hussain was dropped by Hales off Franks as Somerset was desperate to gain their second batting point. But one run short, Hussain edged Swann to Voges who took a diving catch at slip. Somerset 249 all out. The whole hearted Franks deserved more than two for 67, Swann finished with 26.2-5-62-3. Somerset despite a lead of 93 had scored too slowly at 2.85 runs per over.

Notts faced a tricky five overs before lunch as they stood at 19 for 0. Wessels was too cavalier and after hitting four 4s edged Kirby as Trescothick took his sixth slip catch of the match. Hales and Lumb added 55 in 20 overs, as substitute Barrow was twice hit on the hand and back from powerful blows from Lumb. Trego given constant support from Tractor Man in front of the scoreboard had Lumb (17) caught behind as Notts were now 85 for two. Rehman bowled unchanged from the Botham End between lunch and tea but was ineffective as Taylor launched him for six into the Somerset Stand. Hales was struggling against Trego but somehow survived to tea on 49 not out.

Hales reached his half ton straight after the interval but was leg before to preserving Trego for 54, 118 for three. Just as the match seemed to be heading for 1700 handshakes Taylor was leg before to Gregory for 46, 155 for four. Read on his 34^th birthday clipped the same bowler to mid on. But with 12 overs left the players belatedly shook hands at 1719 with Notts 176 for five, 83 runs ahead.

With Warwickshire winning and Notts bowling almost completely reliant on the hobbling Adams, the championship seems a distant dream now. In retrospect the decision to bring in an overseas batsman with Pattinson lame for most of the winter and much of this summer seems a poor decision by the DofC, particularly with the likes of Magoffin taking plenty of wickets for Susses. Notts remain unbeaten after 12 games, what price that they lose their remaining four as they hit their traditional end of season slump?