Taylor rallies his troops as the General marches Notts to Victory
Notts pulled off an outstanding and unexpected win at TB today as Surrey were comprehensively beaten by 114 runs.
Surrey looked strong favourites on a wicket with uneven bounce but against an attack which lacked Surrey’s express pace.
Surrey made a cautiously start against Fletcher (Pavilion End) and Gurney (Radcliffe Road), the latter struggling for his line. Taylor not slow at making bowling changes brought on Franks to replace Gurney after three indifferent overs, what happened next swung the match. The General was clearly pumped up and with fifth ball removed left-hander Burns who edged to Wessels for well made 53 an innings which contained 10 balls; 90 for four. Davies joined de Bruyn and the pair added a further 17 when de Bruyn played a poor shot to ball that got up as The General got his second wicket and keeper Wessels his third catch; 107 for five. Wilson who had claimed a dubious catch to remove Taylor the previous day, got his comeuppance when he was removed caught and bowled for a duck by the returning Gurney who had replaced Fletcher from the Pavilion End; 108 for 6 and Notts were now favourites. Gurney had found his mojo and in his next over got Batty to edge to second slip; 114 for seven.
The umpires bizarrely took the players off for a bad light when there seemed no obvious deterioration. The players returned 13 minutes later, and just before lunch Davies who had made 28 played on to Gurney, 129 for eight. Patel replaced Franks who had been outstanding as the over rate needed speeding up. Surrey went to lunch on 138 for 8.
Mullaney bowled a solitary over from the Pavilion End as Patel switched ends. Franks returned refreshed and got Linley to edge to Hales at first slip, 144 for nine. Patel then got the final wicket as Meaker was caught by Cowan running back at cover to set up wild celebrations as Surrey were bowled out for 144. Franks rolled back the years with 12-5-16-3 and had clearly inspired his teammates. Gurney ripped out the middle order with final figures 15-3-40-3 (and a crucial spell of 6-1-7-3) and Fletcher who seemed the obvious key to victory today remained wicketless despite bowling well once again. A strange game cricket. Shahzad meanwhile did not get a bowl today.
So why did Notts win? Certainly Surrey bowled well throughout and had a better looking attack. Notts hold onto their catches but in retrospect their first innings total of 274 was probably over par on a pitch with unpredictable bounce and ball swinging throughout under the cool leaden skies. Mullaney had Taylor batted very well in trying conditions. Taylor also captained the team well and never let the game drift and was never afraid to make bowling and fielding changes. Notts who could have been in the bottom three if Surrey had triumphed now lie in mid table with 53 points from four games; having won at home for the first time in championship in 10 games and without Adams and Read to boot. Certainly Tales of the Unexpected. Well done Notts!
Fletch to shine in the gloom?
A collapse between lunch and tea by Notts losing seven wickets for 63 runs has made Surrey strong favourites to win the latest fixture at Trent Bridge. Notts hopes rely heavily on Luke Fletcher’s broad shoulders who bowled very well once again today.
Earlier in the day Fletcher survived two drop catches before departing to a slip catch off Meaker after 38-ball 26. Shortly after his dismissal the players went off for a bad light but after a 30 minute stoppage the players returned at 1210. Cowan was batting very cautiously but with great determination. Bad light came in once again at 1245 with Notts 78 for two. Lunch was taken shortly afterwards.
In the 38th over, Cowan’s snail like innings came to an end when he thin edged a ball from Dernbach onto his stumps. Dernbach having just replaced his fellow South African born colleague Meaker from the Radcliffe Road End. Cowan had batted for 97 balls for his 20 with just a solidarity four. Cowan’s seems an ideal team man with great determination but also seems a somewhat intense individual; he’s need a big score soon to calm his nerves. Three overs later with the score marooned on 98, Lumb was harshly adjudged leg before with Linley’s prolonged shout involving him falling over. A clear case of a loud appeal winning the day, much like Borthwick’s effort to remove Swann in the previous game. Lumb gone for 28. Taylor was dropped behind the wicket whilst on nought, but it was not a costly miss as he departed to slip catch off Dernbach for 13, 122 for five. Wessels in a bad run of form with the bat departed first ball giving Roy slip catching practice as Dernbach picked his third victim, 122 for six. Patel hit six fours but just as he was looking set he edged the returning Meaker to de Bruyn to depart for innings high of 37; 153 for seven. Meaker was clearly too fast for Franks as he edged to slip but was badly dropped as the ball flew for four. Alas he departed straight after edging Meaker to Davies behind the wicket, 159 for eight. Mullaney the hero of the first innings got a ball from Linley that jumped on him, he only succeeded in edging to second slip, 161 for nine. Gurney (9*) and Shahzad (20) added an unlikely 30 in six overs of fun, but Shahzad was run out going for a suicidal second as Notts were all out for 191 as tea was taken between the innings. In Meaker, Dernbach and Linley Surrey had an attack which was much faster and accurate than their Notts counterparts and hence they got much more out the wicket.
Surrey required 259 to win and Notts needed early wickets. Fletcher bowled an excellent spell from the Pavilion End having Roy (5) edging to Hales at first slip and then Harinath (4) edged into Wessels gloves, 21 for two. Mullaney then ran out Solanki with a direct hit for a duck, 29 for three. Notts now had a sniff. It was getting too dark once again despite the floodlights being on and Surrey left the field on 38 for three at 1715. The players returned once again at 1740 but Shahzad bowled four overs of dross replacing the equalling disappointing Gurney from the Radcliffe Road End. It came as a huge relief to the home contingent that the umpires took the players off for a final time at 73 for three before further damage could be done; Mr Extras is already on a very too high 14. Twenty two overs had been lost out of the day. Burns was unbeaten on 41 with de Bruyn on nine. Surrey bat deep and logic would suggest with all day to get the final 186 runs they should win with relative ease. All hopes now rest on Fletcher who is capable of making further incisions. The experienced Franks could act as a foil. Gurney lacks experience to get Notts over the line. One never knows from one day to the next which side of the bed Shahzad will emerge from. The Met Office having completely downsized their forecast of heavy rain to light intermittent showers which should be gone by noon. Let’s hope that the Bulwell Metronome can back up his bullish forecast of the outcome on the Notts website, and Notts break their Trent Bridge duck. They have not won at home since Easter last year! The pitch has uneven bounce and the ball is swinging, however Notts lack pace in their attack to fully exploit it.
Wickets shared
This was definitely a better than expected as Notts bowled Surrey out for 207 and lead by 91 with nine wickets remaining as the match goes into Day 3.
However as TB regulars know, the pitches get increasingly easier to bat on as the match progresses so Notts probably need a lead of 350 to 400 runs to stand a realistic chance of winning the game.
The Notts innings lasted three balls this morning, Fletcher dot one then Gurney leg before to Dernbach as they were 274 all out.
Notts desperately needed new ball wickets and for once they were forthcoming. The last ball of over two saw the recently prolific Rory Burns edge Gurney to keeper Wessels for a single. Two balls later Jason Roy was bowled by the ebullient Luke Fletcher for 5; 9 for 2. Vikram Solanki became Fletch’s second victim leg before for eight, 27 for three. Harinath was badly dropped by Cowan at third slip off Franks’ first over from the Pavilion End. The General though was soon back in the action getting de Bruyn (9) to edge to second slip where Patel took the catch. The last ball before lunch saw Davies depart in identical fashion for a duck as Surrey were 47 for five, Notts well on top.
A smiling Mick Newell fielded various questions during the luncheon Members Forum interval. Topics ranged from captaincy, the opening slot and lack of championship bowling from Mullaney. Lisa Pursehouse confirmed that although Notts want to develop the Clarke Stand area they are currently struggling for funding, so any building work is likely to be a few years off and after the 2015 Ashes Test.
Back to the cricket, with the new ball losing its shine batting was getting much easier, but Shahzad who was back into his frustrating Bertie Bassett mode got Harinath to edge to gulley for 24, 71 for six in the 38th over. Part-time Irish stumper Wilson and skipper Batty added 81 in 22 overs until Patel struck twice just before tea. First Wilson edged him one short of his half century where Wessels took a smart catch behind the wicket. Batty had a sudden rush of blood to the head and dashed down the pitch but missed and Wessels had time to roll a fag before the bails were removed. The twin electronic scoreboards seemed to get somewhat confused and announced BATTY STUMPED B PATEL 41; 161 for eight.
Patel was strangely taken off and was replaced by Gurney from the Radcliffe Road end. Linley was bowled middle stump by the left armer for 11, 183 for nine. Dernbach used the long handled approach and saw Surrey to a batting point until mistiming the ball to Franks at mid off as Shahzad picked up his second wicket. Surrey 207 all out. Five Notts bowlers took two wickets a piece, Fletcher’s fine opening spell had been rewarded with figures of 18-10-40-2, Patel took two for four off eight overs, Franks who had one time had figures of 6-5-2-2 finished with two for 33. Mr Extras though stood at 34 aided and abetted by some wayward stuff from Shahzad and Gurney. Notts though would be well pleased with a lead of 67 runs.
A brief shower delayed the Notts innings at two for nought in the first over, but with the floodlights now on they closed on 24 for the loss Hales who inside edged the brisk Meaker onto his stumps for 17. Cowan defended stoically for four not out off 14 overs. Fletcher survived the last over from Meaker from the Radcliffe Road End. A fascinating day awaits tomorrow can Notts do the unthinkable and a win a game without their two main lynchpins Read and Adams.
Taylor is Captain but Mullaney stands tall.
A fighting and typically dogged innings from Steven Mullaney rescued Notts against Surrey at Trent Bridge today.
Chris Read’s 98 consecutive championship game run came to end due to neck problems, so Titch Taylor took over the reins but he lost a crucial toss as Gareth Batty inserted Notts. Taylor was presented with the Player of the Month award during the luncheon interval.
Harry Gurney and Paul Franks returned for Broad and Swann and Wessels took over the gloves from Read. The visitors meanwhile did not select either Chris Tremlett or Jon Lewis.
In the third over an explosive Yorker from Jade Dernbach demolished Hales stumps as he departed for four. Surrey beat the bat over and over again but Lumb and Cowan battened down the hatches and gritted it out as the scoring rate was just a trickle. Just before lunch in the 28th over, Cowan’s patient innings was ended as he was bowled by the impressive Meaker, who bowled with great speed throughout the day. Cowan’s 15 had taken 82 balls; 54 for two. Notts went to lunch on 59 for two off 29 overs.
Lumb was out in fifth over after lunch getting a leading edge from Meaker as ball the ballooned to Linley at mid off. Lumb out for 44; 83 for three. The wicket had plenty of pace and bounce but as ever batting became easier as the day wore on. Patel looking in good form added 60 in 14 overs with the stand-in captain as the scoring rate was increased. Samit more than once taking advantage of short Bridgford Road boundary. Patel though was frustratingly out when well set edging the accurate Tim Linley to first slip. His 35 came off just 44 balls, by far the fastest innings of the day; 143 for 4. Wessels was next in and was badly dropped at third slip by Solanki off Linley whilst on 0, but shortly after Meaker broke through his defences and Wessels was comprehensively bowled for one,
James Taylor looks a far more confident player in 2013 and he was playing a fast and accurate Surrey attack did very well scoring many runs with legside flicks, but then he was somewhat unlucky to play on to “The Viscount” for a well made 47 off 88 balls with nine fours; he was deserving of more; Notts 168 for six, and wobbling somewhat. Franks (4) edged a lifting delivery from Meaker into Davies’ gloves; 181 for seven and the day was getting worse.
The freezing crowd though were pleased to see a gritty partnership of 66 in 28 overs between the impressive Mullaney and Shahzad who was resisting the urge of going for his shots as the Surrey bowlers were clearly getting frustrated as the new ball was taken. Finally after 84 balls, Shahzad (8) played a loose shot an attempted hook of Dernbach which he thin edged to Davies; 247 for eight. The Bulwell Metronome edged his first ball through the slips as Notts reached a welcome and unexpected second batting point. Mullaney was finally undone by a ball from Linley that came in, Mullaney leg before for 68 made off 112 balls with six fours and one six which nearly decapitated a cameraman sitting alone in The Fridge. Fletcher and Gurney added an unbroken eight runs in 27 balls as the floodlights were finally switched on; as the forecast showers thankfully never arrived. Notts closed on 273 for nine.
Surrey will get far easier batting conditions tomorrow and are in the ascendancy but Notts can at least take heart from dogged innings from Lumb, Taylor, Mullaney and Shahzad. Surrey bowled very well, Meaker bowling fast and claiming figures of four for 70. Linley got plenty of lift and movement and on another day would have had better figures than 28-10-54-3. The Notts seamers will have to take advantage with the new ball tomorrow morning and hope to have more luck than in the first innings against Durham a fortnight ago. Afternoon showers are forecast.
MORE PHOTOS ON HARRY'S FACEBOOK see top of pageTrophy report from Welbeck Colliery CC from WCCC website
With the threat of rain arriving to ruin the completion of the match, Warwickshire’s Second Eleven began their 2013 Trophy match against Nottinghamshire at Welbeck Colliery CC.
With wickets falling early, the home side were quickly reduced to 75-5 before a sixth wicket partnership between Hutton and Phillips steadied the innings, helping the home side reach 213-7 from their forty overs.
For Warwickshire, Jack Grundy 2-26 was the pick of the bowlers, whilst the remaining wickets were spread around their attack.
In reply, the young Warwickshire side struggled after losing Piolet first ball and only Sam Hain, fifty from 72 deliveries, made any significant score in a final total of 201-9 from their forty overs.
For Nottinghamshire, Andy Carter, looking to return to first-team action, took 3-42.
The forecast rain held off until after the final ball was bowled as Warwickshire prepared for their three day 2ndXI Championship match against Nottinghamshire on the same ground beginning the following day.
Franks' Return
Harshly described as a veteran by the Notts website, Paul Franks joins the Notts senior XI side for the first time this season with the visit of Surrey in the LV= match starting tomorrow.Alex Hales,
Ed Cowan,
Michael Lumb,
James Taylor,
Samit Patel,
Steven Mullaney,
Chris Read (capt),
Paul Franks,
Ajmal Shahzad,
Luke Fletcher,
Harry Gurney.
Notts seconds also start a 3 day game tomorrow against Warwickshire at Welbeck Colliery CC and their squad is from:
Sam Kelsall,
Tom Rowe,
Sam Wood,
Riki Wessels,
Adam Tillcock,
Graeme White,
Jake Ball,
Andy Carter,
Brett Hutton,
Tom New,
Ben Phillips,
George Bacon.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please share your thoughts...