Wood cuts down Notts' title ambitions

An heroic effort to score 366 runs to keep their championship hopes alive ended with a 16 run defeat for Notts yesterday. Durham batted on for another four overs and added 24 runs for the loss of Collingwood who was bowled by White for 59. Durham 325 for eight declared setting Notts 366 runs to win off 90 overs. With the pitch now playing much easier, Wessels and Hales added 168 runs  in 42 overs with Wessels in particular in fine form. Even first innings destroyer Onions was looking innocuous.  Just two short of his ton, Wessels cut a ball from Rushworth and was caught in the gulley by Callum Thorp; his innings of 98 came off 137 balls with 10 4’s. Michael Lumb, Notts best bat this season came in and hit three hours before top edging a sweep of Borthwick when 16 and was caught by Mark Wood at short fine leg. Voges did not last long edging Onions to slip, Notts 212 for three needing another 154 runs with 40 overs left and with a paper thin tail. The match turned in the 58th over. Hales having just reached his 100 was hit on the leg from a brilliant yorker from Mark Wood, Umpire Gale raised his finger although the decision seemed harsh, Hales’ 101 came off 147 balls with 13 fours. Worse was to follow, Read (8) was beaten for pace by Wood  and was bowled neck and crop, Notts now needed 108 off 28 overs with five wickets left. Mullaney counter attacked and hooked a six into the Fox Road, but batting partner Franks was struggling to time the ball and leg spinner Borthwick was bamboozling him. The sixth partnership added 30 runs in 14 overs, when a frustrated Franks (13) chipped Borthwick to mid off. White did not last long he was also struggling against Borthwick and was dismissed to a long hop, 303 for seven with 10 overs left. Collingwood elected not to take the new ball and kept Wood (Radcliffe) and Borthwick (Pavilion) on. Notts had to keep going for the win and Phillips hit Borthwick for three successive fours to give hope. Wood kept going despite the heat and was rewarded when Phillips drove him straight to Borthwick, 330 for eight and the end was nigh. Mullaney and Fletcher added 19 as 19 were now needed with two overs left. Wood trying too hard bowled a no ball, Fletcher though was bowled off the second ball. Carter fell second ball plumb leg before as Notts were all out for 349, to lose by 16 runs; their first defeat of the season. Mullaney was left stranded on a gutsy 60 off 104 balls with five fours and two sixes. Wood was the undoubted hero for the visitors with 23.4-2-78-5 as Notts had clearly missed Patel and Taylor and talismanic Adams. They can take heart from the return to form of Hales and forgotten man Fletcher who took a welcome six wickets.