v Derbyshire LV= at Derby

Day 4 Superb Broad is too good for Derbyshire A superlative new ball bowling effort by Stuart Broad ensured Notts beat the weather and cruised to an easy victory over a Derbyshire team that have relegation written all over them. Despite a brief shower at 1050, play got underway on time in sunny but cool conditions. A sparse crowd were in attendance as Notts opened with Fletcher and Patel. Samit nearly got a wicket in his first over as an edge from Redfern went between Read and Hales at slip. Broad beat the bat a couple of times but bowling with the old ball was hard work on the slow and low wicket. Read tried Wessels for a couple of overs and then cries of “Eddie” came from the away contingent as Cowan was tried bowling medium pacers off three paces from City End. The over count got to 80 and much to everyone’s surprise Patel had the ball in his hand for over 81, but a short shower saw the players leave the field. Four overs had been lost when play resumed at 1245 it was Broad that took the new cherry from the Racecourse End. A toe crunching Yorker saw the end of Redfern’s stubborn 114 ball resistance as the left hander departed for 61. The sixth wicket partnership with Wainwright had raised 79 runs in 28 overs. Broad was finding life out of the dead pitch as he removed Wainwright (33) caught behind in his next over. The very next ball from Broad produced another Yorker rapping Poynton on the pads and the umpire raised his finger; 223 for eight. Broad had got three wickets in 10 deliveries to completely turn the complexion of the game. During lunch heavy rain started to fall and with another shower coming later it ensured the players were off the field until 1510 as another 24 overs were lost. With dark clouds hovering around, Notts wasted little time in obtaining the last two wickets. The fifth leg before of the innings saw Palladino out to that man Broad and finally after four days of attrition a bowler finally hit the stumps as Gurney bowled Clare for 5. Derbyshire 229 all out. With Messrs Cook, Flower, Giles, Whitaker and Miller in attendance Broad had bowled superbly to finish with 23-11-34-4.Fletcher who got the crucial wicket of Chanderpaul the previous evening finished with 20-9-41-2 and there were three wickets for slightly expensive Gurney. Notts needed 43 to run, a target they got in just 33 balls as rain was in the air. Hales edged Groenewald to be caught behind for four, but Lumb (24*) and Cowan (15*) saw Notts home with 9 wickets to spare at 1607. A much needed and deserved to win. The loss of Adams handicapped Notts considerably having to rotate four bowlers on an unforgiving pitch. The home team Chanderpaul apart, look decidedly mediocre and only a miracle would see them retain their first division status at the end of the season. Graeme Swann will replace Adams for Monday’s game versus Durham. Notts might replace Wessels with Mullaney to give extra bowling strength. Shahzad and Gurney will be competing for the final slot.   MAG MORE PICS ON FACEBOOK .......................................................................................................................Derbyshire's sixth wicket pair stood resolute for 90 minutes, it was a waiting game - Derbyshire were waiting for the rain, Notts were waiting of 80 overs and the new ball. The rain arrived first as the new ball was due. Fortunately only 4 overs were lost and the new ball in Stuart Broad's hands paid instant rewards with a burst of 3 wickets in 10 balls. Derbyshire lunched at 227/8 The end was nigh and straight after lunch another Broad wicket followed by Harry Gurney's third set Notts a target of 43 which they knocked off for the loss of Hales inside 6 overs. 22 points in the bag. RIP Dad 1 year on  Day 3 Derbyshire 44 runs in arrears as Fletcher takes the prize wicket Another satisfying day for Notts saw Derbyshire lose five wickets for 143 runs trying to clear a deficit of 187. However, with an indifferent weather forecast and a relatively lifeless pitch, this game is far from over. Despite early morning rain, play commenced on time and Notts made slow progress, Read flashed at a wide delivery outside off stump from Groenewald to be caught behind for 33; 332 for six. Derbyshire had picked up two bowling points and Notts three batting points. Broad added impetus to the scoring rate, as he hooked a short ball from Clare for six just over the head of deep square leg. The Derby fielders then added extra entertainment by dropping the left hander three times in two overs. First Broad was spilled at mid on, Groenewald then threw the ball for the game’s second six in front of the pavilion, and then finally Wainwright dropped a sitter at deep extra cover. Eventually Clare got his man as Groenewald held Broad at fine leg as he departed for 41 off 43 balls, an almost Gayleseque scoring rate given the complete lack of life in the pitch; 391 for seven. Adams came in limping in with his runner Wessels. He edged his first ball to Durston at slip, as Clare picked up another wicket. Adams is reportedly out for at least five weeks, his bowling will be irreplaceable.  Notts went to lunch on 419 for eight with Taylor 93 not out; having added just 26 to his overnight total in 30 overs. Taylor reached his ton by edging past first and second slip to record only his sixth four. Fletcher and Taylor managed to add 52 in 17 overs before Taylor miscued Wainwright to be caught at mid off by Dan Redfern. Taylor’s 112, his second championship ton for Notts, had occupied 282 balls and included seven fours. Not a fluid innings but extremely valuable to the team cause. Gurney was triggered first ball given out leg before to ball that looked to clearly going over the stumps; Fletcher was left unbeaten on 19, as Notts were all out for 443 off 144.1 overs. Notts clearly needed early wickets and Fletcher bowling from the City End had Godleman leg before in the fourth over of Derbyshire’s reply. Gurney replaced the Bulwell Metronome and had Durston leg before for nine; 24 for two. Broad meanwhile had a seven over spell but despite bowling well, did not pick up a wicket. Chanderpaul and captain Madsen steadied the ship and Chanderpaul looked in ominous form as Gurney went for 33 runs in three overs in the early evening sunshine. Fletcher came on from the Racecourse End and bowled a crucial spell, he rapped the Guyanese left hander on the pads but the appeal was rejected, then Chanderpaul got a thin edge to Read to depart for 57; Fletcher’s danced with delight having obtained the crucial dismissal. Five overs later the returning Gurney had Madsen leg before for 47; 130 for four. Left hander Ross Whitely never looked comfortable against Patel’s slow left arm, and edged him to first slip where Hales took an excellent diving catch. Broad came on late on but Redfern and Wainwright survived as Derbyshire closed in bright sunshine on 143 for five. Notts had generally batted and bowled well throughout the day in trying conditions with a strong north westerly wind blowing across the County Ground. The match has so far been played without any weather interruptions, let’s hope the rain holds off sufficiently for Notts to claim their first championship win in 11 months.    Leicestershire were today beaten by Leeds Bradford MCCU by 102 runs following a good all round performance by Luis Reece. http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2013/engine/current/match/593323.html Day 2 Notts bat into a lead on an somnolent day Notts made steady if unspectacular on the second day of their game at Derby. The crowd was much smaller than the previous day, as the inflated admission prices probably backfired on the hosts. Resuming on 28 for 0, Hales and Cowan made a slow start with the Australian surprisingly outscoring the normally big hitting Hales. Cowan was nearly run out after a mix up with Hales but just made his ground, his dive beating Chanderpaul’s throw. Having reached his 50 in 90 balls, Cowan unforgivably threw his wicket away just has he had done in the first innings against Middlesex. This time he pulled a long hop from Wainwright straight to substitute Greg Cork (son of Dominic) at midwicket. Cowan gone for a 96-ball 59; 95 for one. Notts reached lunch on 124 for one, having scored 96 runs in 29 overs. The scoring rate slowed considerably in the afternoon session as the ball got softer. With a large lush outfield boundaries were hard to come by all day. Hales fell leg before to Palladino bowling from the Racecourse End for 56, umpire Bodenham taking an eternity to raise his finger. Lumb was then badly dropped on 21 off the same bowler; Durston the guilty party at slip. Lumb though never really looked himself and eventually fell edging Jon Clare to the tidy Poynton behind the stumps. Lumb gone for 44, Notts 186 for 3 in the 69th over. Taylor and Patel reined in their normal attacking instincts as they added 89 in 25 overs, Taylor became the second Notts batsman to be nearly run out slipping on the lush ground, fortunately he made back. The clouds closed in after tea and floodlights came on, Patel on 48 pushed the ball to cover but it was third time unlucky for Notts as he slipped and laid prostrate on the turf like a beached whale as he was sent back by Titch Taylor. Patel’s 48 came off 83 balls with just four boundaries; 275 for four. A dreadful waft outside his off stump by Wessels off left armer Whiteley saw him depart for just eight caught by Poynton. Taylor (67 not out) and Read (27 not out) add an unbroken 39 off the remaining 10 overs. Notts closed on 325 for five, 25 shy of the fourth batting point with just 18 balls left to achieve it. Taylor has so far faced 183 balls and hit just four boundaries. It had been a somewhat somnolent day, but Notts will be pleased with their efforts. So what next? Despite a long tail, Notts will looking to get a lead of around 150 runs to put pressure on Derbyshire, but it won’t be easy with only four bowlers and a dead wicket. Broad is the key man, it would also make sense to open up with Gurney rather than Fletcher. MORE PICS ON FACEBOOK Day One Broad motoring on 4 Star An excellent pre-lunch spell by Stuart Broad put Notts in an excellent position at Derby yesterday; unfortunately a typical obdurate innings by Shivnarine Chanderpaul put the contest more on an even keel. Notts won the toss and inserted the home team. The spray gun twins (Carter and Shahzad) were dropped to be replaced by Broad and left-armer Gurney who had impressed against the Durham Students. Early doors in the bright sunshine, Broad removed Madsen leg before and Godleman was given a life being badly dropped at slip by Cowan off Adams. With the score on 49, Adams had Wes Durston (3) leg before to an in swinger, having a strong appeal turned down the previous ball. Billy Godleman got to 31 before edging the brisk Broad to Read, 61 for 3. After bowling 47 deliveries, Adams’ calf was giving him trouble, he limped off with the prognosis being at least two or three weeks out with a tear suspected. It’s a reoccurrence of the injury that first occurred at Taunton last August and again at Edgbaston three weeks later. Nearing 38 now, the days of Newell’s almost complete dependence on Adams seem over, where are Notts now going to get 20 wickets from? Redfern edged to Lumb in the gulley as Broad picked up his third wicket; Derby went to lunch at 69 for four. Notts had bowled well and immediately after the resumption, Whiteley edged Gurney (having his first bowl of the day), the ball went to Patel at second slip who parried the ball to Read who took his second catch catching the ricochet. In his next over, Gurney had Wainwright (5) caught at slip, this time Patel holding on, 75 for six. But the ball was now getting old, and with the pitch, a typical Derby slow and low effort being absolutely tailor made for Chanderpaul; he found an able partner in Jonathan Clare. Fletcher was very accurate but with the pitch lacking bounce never looked threatening, Patel was also posing no problems either and with the brisker Gurney proving somewhat expensive, the pair added 96, until the returning Broad showed his class by getting the Burnley born player to edge to Hales to first slip, one short of his half century, 171 for seven. Gurney then got Poynton to edge to slip, 181 for eight. The wicket was getting easier and easier to bat on and Palladino who got a half century at Edgbaston in game one added 68 with the crablike Chanderpaul. With the final ball before the new ball was due, Read pouched his fourth catch as Gurney picked up his fourth wicket, 249 for nine. With the 15thdelivery with the new ball Groenewald edged the perspiring Fletcher as Ed Cowan hung on at third slip. Derbyshire 256 all out, a competitive total with Broad the stand out with 22-6-57-4, supported by the somewhat expensive Gurney (17-0-86-4). Notts though had bowled far better than the Middlesex debacle. Chanderpaul closed on unbeaten 87 off 153 balls with nine fours, expect a lot more from him second time around. Cowan and Hales saw off the remaining 11 overs easily as Notts closed on 28 for 0, 228 runs in arrears. Notts should be looking at 400 runs on a wicket that currently holds little terrors. With Poynton standing up Palladino before the close the lack of pace is clearly apparent. Application is the name of the game, it’s very much a grafters pitch, so Notts middle order must rein in their attacking instincts somewhat. The tail though looks worryingly long..... With only four bowlers standing, Notts will have to work extremely hard to obtain another 10 wickets, let’s hope the batsman graft out the day and Broad bowls as well as today in the second innings. Newell meanwhile must be extremely concerned about Adams fitness for the rest of this season and beyond.

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Notts 2nds beat MCCYC by an innings and 16 runs

4 it's a magic number!

Stuart Broad 4/57
Harry Gurney 4/86
Chris Read 4 catches

In the 23rd over of the day, disaster struck, Andre Adams pulled-up mid over with a reoccurrence of his calf injury from last year. **</*_!



With Notts Seconds "bossing it" at Radlett against MCC Youngsters, history was made at Scarborough when for Lancashire Second XI Jordan Clark slogged 6 sixes over mid wicket off the bowling of Yorkshire's Gurman Randhawa being the first English professional to achieve the feat. 

MCCYC 64/6 still 67 behind in their second innings.Good days for Sam Wood and Graeme White with the ball.

The eleven to face Derbyshire has been announced as:

Ed Cowan,
 Alex Hales, 
Michael Lumb, 
James Taylor,
 Samit Patel,
 Riki Wessels, 
Chris Read, 
Stuart Broad, 
 Luke Fletcher, 
Andre Adams, 
Harry Gurney


Aj Shahzad misses out.

News

Notts 2nds beat MCC Young Cricketers by 6 wickets today at Radlett in their trophy match. 
Sam Kelsall 69 and a brace of wickets each for Bacon, kitt and White


Bilal Shafayat was part of the victorious Shropshire eleven that defeated Lincolnshire at Shrewsbury yesterday.
http://www.shropshireccc.co.uk/fixture.php?fixture=201302

Scott Elstone made 25 for his new club Dunstall in their 10 wicket defeat to Lullington Park in the Beechwood MG Derbyshire Premier League.

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A new look, younger Second XI were due to face a MCC Young Cricketers XI in Trophy match today:

 Kelsall, Franks, Rowe, S.Wood, White, Tillcock, Bacon, L.Wood, Ball, Kitt, Mellor (WK)

Tomorrow's Championship XI has been announced as Kelsall, Rowe, Mullaney or Wessels, S.Wood, Hutton, White, Phillips, Tillcock, Franks, Ball, Carter, Mellor (WK) 

This lets some cats out of bags with regards to Wednesday's XI heading for the Sheepdip in that Carter, Phillips, Franks and Ball won't feature in the attack and it's a toss-up between Mullaney and Wessels - no great revelations through.

Preview

Perception at Nottinghamshire, the club, is that it likes to reminisce about the old days when all the members worried about was beating the Old Foe and finishing above them in the league table and indeed for much of the pre-Rice and then the Hadlee and Rice days that was perhaps the full extent of ambitions. These days, the section of the membership that has an interest in County Cricket, rather than the Test Match ticketeers, set targets much higher - indeed with the array of talent that Mick Newell now has at his disposal, silverware this term is practically a must for him to retain any credibility. Last year; injuries, Test and Lion call-ups and uncompleted matches due to the weather combined to give face-saving excuses for the club's management not to have given the Green and Gold faithful more to cheer.

 So far 2013 has been mixed. First up, Notts were completely out played by a season-ready Middlesex, then we had a mis-match of a contest against a university side of record breaking proportions

 Next on this year's agenda is Derbyshire at the County Ground, Derby, a game which should give the membership a measure of how this season could pan out and potentially could have a bonding effect between the faithful and the All Star players, should things go how they ought to. Granted, Derbyshire have Chanderpaul, a good team spirit and home advantage but Nottinghamshire have the resources that should sweep them away. 

The fixture remains very significant to supporters of both clubs, from this POV let's hope Hales, Taylor and Lumb etc do themselves a justice and with a ring rusty Stuart Broad due to play along side an Andre Adams "with a point to prove", the plan must be blow them away cheap and score big, fingers crossed, c'mon Notts! .

Repeated hints on NottsCCC website to Graeme Swann's imminent return - is Wednesday too soon?