v Worcestershire YB40 at New Road

Hales's too hot for Pears

Notts made it three wins out of three in the Comedy League with a somewhat topsy turvey performance.

The forecast rain arrived at Worcester at noon, this cleared and play got underway at 1600 hours as a 25-over match. Notts replaced Taylor and Swann with Ed Cowan and Graeme White. Carter somehow kept his place ahead of Shahzad, Phillips and Fletcher...answers on a postcard please!

Notts won the toss once again and with more rain forecast had to bowl. The crowd was sparse and the weather cool. The wicket was pitched much left of centre towards the River Severn. The corner where the old Severn Bar used to be has now been replaced by a Premier Inn which is now under construction. The hotel literally going right up to the boundary edge, although unlike Trent Bridge there is no loss to the size of the outfield.

Moeen Ali and captain Mitchell got Worcester off to a good start, Carter’s second and last over went for 22, but off his last ball, Moeen having gorged himself to the free buffet holed out to Cowan at mid on. Carter gave the batsman a send off and was rightly warned by the umpire, Ali out for 28; 39 for one. Kervezee (1) immediately followed lifting Patel to Wessels at cover.

Jake Ball replaced Carter from the New Road End and bowled well, getting Mitchell (15) to chip the ball straight to Michael Lumb. In his next over Samaraweera was plumb leg before for five as the Welbeck man claimed his second wicket. Next over, Patel had Neil Pinner (2) leg before as Worcestershire were 52 for five. The rain came shortly after with the hosts 64 for five off 11 overs; Notts well on top.

After a 75 minute delay, the match was now a 16-over affair. Mullaney bowled an economical over, but after having bowled well the wheels came off somewhat. On Wednesday 63 runs came off the last five overs of Kent’s innings, this time the same amount came off the last four. Carter could not be trusted, Ball was considered too inexperienced so the last four overs were shared between Patel, Gurney and Mullaney. Gareth Andrew who always enjoys himself with bat in hand against Notts, hit out to spectacular effect, the ball twice was lost in the building site of a hotel.  Lumb dropped a sitter off Gurney’s last ball, Andrew 38 not out going in to the last over made him pay. The last over of the innings bowled by Mullaney went for 24 as Andrew tucked in, Worcestershire closed on 132 for five. Andrew finishing a 34-ball 62 with eight fours and two sixes. Aussie keeper Johnson was unbeaten on 17 as the sixth wicket had added 80 in seven overs. Ball bowled well with 3-0-12-2. Patel’s last over went for 19, but the slow left armer still had commendable figures of 4-0-27-2

Having taken five wickets before the rain break, Vera came out with a target of 127 off 16 overs. Lumb was out for a duck off the second ball of innings being well caught at short mid-wicket by Samaraweera off Shantry’s left armers. Hales though was in fine form and in tandem with Wessels, 79 was added in 41 balls. A single over from Andrew went for 17. Brett D’Oliveria bowled successive two full bungers that Wessels hit for six into the stand named after the bowlers grandfather!

Wessels (28) eventually holed out at long on as Shantry having switched to the Diglis End. Notts now needed 48 at exactly a run a ball. Patel having batted so well at Northampton was strangely subdued, after facing 10 balls; he was bowled by Mitchell for four. Cowan came in at five and looked decidedly nervous at the proposition. He just could not time the ball, as he managed to exceed the number of dot balls Hales had achieved (6 plays 5) in his brief cameo. He though managed to his Mitchell over the short square leg boundary for a well needed maximum, but he edged our old friend Lucas to the somewhat untidy keeper Michael Johnson who was standing up. Cowan departing for 12-ball 10 leaving the field as distraught as a Fox missing a match winning 95^th minute penalty. Hales hit a six and a four to relieve the pressure but his fantastic innings finally came to an end as he holed out with just seven needed. Hales 72 came off 41 balls with eight fours and two sixes. It was getting very late now as the umpires had got their maths wrong, the man from Collingham had to dash off for his train and he missed Mullaney pulling Andrew for 4 as Notts completed a five wicket victory with four balls unused at 1942; 12 minutes beyond the scheduled close.

Notts now get back to the proper stuff with Surrey visiting Trent Bridge; the pyjamas will be slipped back on under the Edgbaston lights on May 23.

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Eddie's Return

Ed Cowan has recovered from his bout of "man-flu" and is set to return to Nottinghamshire action with the Outlaw's game in the YB40 at New Road tomorrow.

Ed Cowan takes the place of James The Lion Taylor; Graeme White also returns in the place of Graeme England Swann.

Jake Ball and Andy Carter appear to be given further chances to show improvement, retaining their places.