Day 2 v Durham LV= 2012 Onions 9

A superlative bowling effort from Graeme Onions put Durham on top at Trent Bridge today. Onions not required by England got to Trent Bridge ready for the afternoon session; he subsequently took nine wickets for the best figures on the ground since Mushtaq Ahmed bowled Sussex to the championship and condemned Notts to relegation in the final game of the 2006 season. Bowling in two spells from the Radcliffe Road Onions was causing havoc taking advantage of uneven bounce in the pitch. It was clear virtually from the word go that he was going to pick up a wad of wickets on a wicket tailored made for him. Whatever possessed Notts to put out such a wicket without Adams after the Kiwi has had to bowl on TB featherbeds all seasons is open to question; but full credit to Onions who exploited the conditions magnificently. 16.3-2.67-9 Hales departed plumb leg before second ball as his nightmare run continues.  Lumb (12) hit a couple of fours but was lbw victim number 2 when the score was on 31. Voges failed again being bowled by Onions for nine, 41 for three. Wessels (22) followed the same way as Notts were now 50 for 4. All the top four had been surgically removed by the Gateshead native; not so Read who played an uncharacteristic waft to depart caught behind first ball. The support bowling was easier to contend with as Franks went on the attack. The General added 65 for the 6th wicket before Onions returned straight after tea.  A quite woeful umpiring decision by umpire Gale removed Mullaney leg before for 23. Franks brave effort ended six overs later as he was out to a plumb leg before decision as Onions now had all six. Franks’ 53 came off 66 balls with eight fours.  White (13) edged Onions to Collingwood at slip; 153 for eight. Onions failed to grab all ten only as a result of schoolboy running by the portly Fletcher who waddled an attempted single and failed to ground his bat, the identity of the fielder was none other that man Onions. Carter fell for the three card trick two bouncers softened him up and the third ball was pitched up, end result middle stump out of the ground. Notts 154 all out with Onions having a final analysis of 16.3-2-67-9; his bowling will live long in the memory as apart from Read none of Notts batters could be blamed for their dismissal. Notts trialled by 40 runs on first innings. Earlier Durham added 109 this morning in an extended session caused by a 50 run partnership for the last wicket by  Wood (34) and Rushworth (24*) which changed the momentum of the match. Collingwood edged Fletcher to gulley in the eighth over of the morning. Three overs later Benkenstein edged Phillips to slip as Durham were 107 for six. The next three batsman were out to poor shots Borthwick chipping Carter to Wessels at point; Thorp caught by Carter at cover off Phillips and Claydon (17) who departed the game to make way for Onions became Carter’s third victim also caught in the covers. Durham all out on the stroke of the delayed lunch at 1330;as Wood edged White into Read’s gloves. Carter, Phillips and Fletcher all finished with three wickets. Durham made untroubled progress in the final 12 overs played out in bright sunshine; they closed with a lead of 67 on 27 for no loss. Notts now face an uphill battle on a pitch of irregular bounce. Scott Elstone scored 131 at Lady Bay v Northants 2nds Mail Online  Onions also benefited from some poor shots from the Notts batsmen as well as some generous umpiring decisions from Stephen Gale. Steven Mullaney was particularly aggrieved to be given lbw to a ball that looked like it was going high while Franks' bold, counter-attacking half-century was also ended lbw, although the delivery appeared to pitch outside leg. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-2189534/Graham-Onions-takes-wickets-run-Notts-savaged-Durham-seamer.html  Steve Gale was the umpire at the centre of the upset at Old Trafford in May when Broad and Swann were playing for Notts and got some decisions they didn't like. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/broad-escapes-action-for-latest-outburst-7707417.html