v Glamorgan CB40 2012

Dai Llewellyn sets Outlaws too stiff a target

After a somewhat lackadaisical display Notts slipped to a narrow two-run defeat under the Vera Duckworth method at Swansea yesterday. Elstone and Carter came in for Ball and Gurney on a spinner’s wicket which had been used for the previous four day game against Gloucestershire. Fletcher still sadly completely out of shape was a poor selection and he bowled a very mixed fare opening up from the Mumbles End; Patel meanwhile continued his mediocre bowling efforts from last Wednesday. The end result was that Glamorgan raced off at six an over from the first six overs on a wicket where 180 looked a winning total. Andrew Carter made the breakthrough as left hander Gareth Rees (18) was caught at mid on, 38 for one. Chris Cooke who hit a big ton against Somerset last week was leg before to Graeme White who had replaced Fletcher from the Mumbles End; 47 for two. Allenby (11) lofted the former Stowe pupil where Lumb took the catch; 59 for three after 12 overs. The sun was still burning brightly as dark clouds hovered in the hills overlooking the ground. Captain Mark Wallace who made a brave declaration 24 hours earlier, became White’s third victim being caught at deep square leg by Wessels, the captain gone for 21; 63 for four. Voges badly dropped Walters at slip, but the drop was not costly as shortly after the Australian caught the former Surrey man off Patel for 13; 88 for five. Ben Wright and Marcus North added a crucial 61 runs in 15 overs as Glamorgan were heading for a very competitive total on this slow, low turner. Elstone got a rare bowl but was hit for six by Wright as the spectator took the catch. The batting power play was taken as North holed out to square leg boundary where Scott Elstone took the catch, Carter being the bowler. North’s 35 came off 59 balls with a single four. Patel continued to bowl poorly, although he did pick up Wagg to another boundary catch. The former Derby man was returning after a three month injury layoff. Right hander Wright hit Patel for a massive six towards the Mumbles beach but Patel got his revenge off the last ball of the innings as Voges caught the ball as it returned from orbit, Wright’s out for 62 off 70 balls with four fours and two sixes, Glamorgan would have been very pleased with 181 for eight off 40 overs, as Notts failed to maximize the very helpful spinning conditions,. White’s 8-1-28-3 could be pleased with his efforts but Patel despite picking up three wickets should not have gone for nearly six an over on this pitch. The dark clouds finally made it over the ground and light drizzle at tea time resulted in a 35 minute tea but no overs were lost. The Pavilion End saw extravagant turn the previous day and Cosker bowling slow left arm pick up two quick wickets as Lumb was caught at short mid wicket and Hales who did not seem to have a clue was stumped by Wallace for 10, 24 for two in the seventh. Wessels who played Panesar well in Hove 10 weeks previously looked a lot more confident against the slow stuff than his leaden footed colleagues and wisely decided that attack was best form of defence and hit a fine 38 off 41 balls. Notts were now ahead of D/L target and with rain very imminent had to make sure that no wickets were lost. Wessels was caught by North at short leg off Croft, an instinctive effort as Notts were now 74 for three. Notts were one run ahead of the D/L Target but off the last ball before a 74-minute rain stoppage. Voges was triggered out by Grim Tim to ball going down legside from Cosker who had changed ends, Voges left the field chuntering but Notts were now 10 runs below the par score as heavy rain started to fall on 77 for four off 18 overs. More play seemed unlikely but the rain finally relented as the sun returned. Notts now needed another 33 runs off just three overs, as Vera turned out to Notts foe once again. Rather unfairly Notts were denied any batting power play; Patel and Read got 13 from first over bowled by Allenby, 20 were now needed off two. A piece of cake not so on the subterranean pitch Wagg conceded only six from over 20. Glamorgan conveniently subbed Croft for Nick James but the former Bear slipped in the quagmire as he dropped the catch, but Patel (35) holed out to long on off the last ball of the over as the batsman crucially crossed. Fourteen now needed off the last over, five singles came off Allenby’s first five balls as the match was now lost. Read hit the last ball into the pavilion sight-screen as Notts fell three runs short of D/L target. Another poor limited overs performance following the Hampshire and Surrey defeats. Swann is expected to return to line up at Taunton tomorrow as another wet day is forecast.   MAG

Glamorgan 181/8 (40 overs) 

Ben Wright 62
Marcus North 35
Graeme White 3/28
Samit Patel 3/47

Outlaws 107/5 (21 overs)

Riki Wessels 38 (before Rain)
Dean Cosker 3/26 (before Rain)

Samit Patel 35 ( before and after rain)
Chris Read 14 not out

Another poor result for Notts, the three competitions is now down to just the Championship which was always the outside bet of the 3 because of Test and Lion call-ups this month.

Paul Johnson needs to start earning some of his salary and address these problems with spin as it seems most of the wickets up and down the country are spin  ultra-friendly now, including Trent Bridge and it can only get worse in August.

Banksy pulls his topical finger out! But Birksy needs to pull his finger 
out at the Bridge and prepare something that suits the home team 
for the remaining fixtures.