Back to winning ways

Proof that  84 + 71 really is greater than 102; those being the contributions of Michael Lumb, Chris Read and Mark Stoneman as Notts Outlaws beat Durham Dynamos by 43 runs, the game ending in the 79^th over of the hot, sunny, humid day. 

 Notts, thanks to the two major contributors scored the county’s highest ever 40 over competition score of 294 for 8. Had it not been for a mid innings slumber when the spinners reined in the batsmen, the score might have been well beyond the 300 mark. The hitting of maximums was aided by a short boundary on the Fox Road side which was counter-balanced by the acres of space before the western boundary, the ropes only being brought in a little on that side.

The Outlaws side contained a returning Pattinson and Elstone but no, rested Voges, a line-up which put more onus onto the top order to perform, which they did to great effect from the off.

 The first over went for 8 runs including a drop by Gareth Breese of Alex Hales in the gully region, one of a number of drops involving young Hales yesterday, but it was Lumb who monopolised the scoring as he raced to 50 in 31 balls, Rushworth, Stokes and Claydon all on the receiving end of a battering.

At the end of the 10^th over Alex Hales had his castle razed by Mitchell Claydon for 22 in a partnership of 88. Michael Lumb departed in similar fashion at the end of the 14^th over his 84 containing 14 fours and 2 sixes (51 balls). Through-out Claydon’s stint, he had problems with his footwork, donating 3 no balls, the first 2 free hits going to the boundary.

Riki Wessels carried-on where Lumb had left-off hitting 4 fours and 3 sixes before being caught a long on off Breese. Durham’s bowlers could then exert some control over proceedings as Samit Patel 17, Scott Elstone 14 and Steven Mullaney 19 all got bogged-down by Breese, Borthwick and Stokes. One highlight of this passage of play was a reverse sweep off Breese by Elstone that reached the boundary in front of the Hound Road.

 The sticky period for Outlaws continued with Chris Read and Graeme White until the decision was made to just go for it. White 7 fell to another wicket flattening by Claydon but Read was magnificent with his 71 which included 6 fours and 3 sixes. Jake Ball 1 made and brief appearance and Darren Pattinson chipped-in with 7 not out at the death.

294 represent a good score but with Mustard, Stoneman and Stokes in the Durham line-up, well with-in the North Easterner’s scope, only last week blasting well over 300 at Chester le Street for the loss of very few wickets.

The blistering hot day continued as the Dynamos started their reply, with Stoneman and Mustard.

Phil Mustard 3, looking for a hat trick of centuries in the CB40 was first to fall, in the third over and Ben Stokes would have soon followed had not been for Alex Hales dropping him at first slip on two occasions off Darren Pattinson.

Ben Stokes 34 lasted until the 9^th over, 67/2 caught at long on off Samit Patel. Graeme White started his first over with a head-high full toss which was helped to the boundary by Stoneman and 7 bowl over costing 15 runs but White then turned things around getting rid of the hard hitting Gordon Muchall to a Mullaney catch. It was then Mullaney’s turn to turn the screw with the ball, Collingwood 8 and Benkenstein 37 both falling to Wessels catches off his bowling and then just after he had reached his three figure landmark, Mark Stoneman 102. Proceedings were than quickly wrapped-up by some good pace bowling by both Andy Carter and Darren Pattinson; Myburgh 15, Breese 10 and last man out Rushworth 2 all castled by Carter. Patto picked up the wicket of Borthwick 6 to a catch by sub-fielder Tom Rowe.

Though the 43 run win was good and enjoyable to see, the season is over for the Outlaws in this competition 2012. It just might be worth noting, one of the scheduled umpires (SG) was replaced by Paul Baldwin, rumours circulating Trent Bridge suggested Notts had made it clear that they weren't happy with SG's performance in the days preceding this match.

Regular readers will have noticed a different author for this report (my apologies for any errors and lack of wit and insight), our usual contributor, MAG being unwell – get better soon Mate!

Remember folks, you too can submit your own thoughts, reports, photos, jokes, remarks either by Email (address at the foot of the page) or twitter @Nottsview.

Footnote: One of the loudest cheers of the day was reserved for the news of KP's innings at the Rose Bowl; his Golden Duck was greeted by spontaneous applause, cheers and laughter all simultaneously - the love felt for Mr Pietersen is universal it appears. 

HBD

Mahmood

Lancashire's Sajid Mahmood has gone on loan to Taunton to bail them out of their injury crisis, for the rest of the season.

Anthony Ireland has returned to Gloucestershire on loan from Middlesex for the remains of the season too, as cover for the injured Ian Saxelby.

TESTING

England fell short in their chase towards history, set 346 to win they lost by 51 runs.

Taylor was run out by the Trotts for 4
Broad 37
Swann 41