v Derbyshire LV= Trent Bridge

Day 4 Career best Lumb

On another showery day it was case of mission accomplished for Notts as they collected seven points in their drawn contest versus Derbyshire. They lie mid table on 80 points from seven games 28 points above eighth placed Somerset with a game in hand.

With an indifferent forecast, both sides settled for points gathering rather than collusion on a windy day Trentside.

Play started on time and Notts got off to a quick start with night watchman Fletcher outscoring Lumb. Derby’s bowling remained poor and clearly below Division One standard. Fletcher scored his second first-class half-century of his career and was eventually dismissed to Wes Durston’s arm ball for a well made 64, an innings which included eight fours and one six into the Fox Road stand.  The Bulwellian's current first-class career batting average is 16.30, there is no reason why he cannot push that up to low 20s; he is no mug with the bat. Lumb and Fletcher had added 123 runs for the fourth wicket. Mullaney survived until lunch as a heavy shower arrived at the start of the interval as Notts stood on 352 for five.

A series of short sharp showers meant that players did not re-emerge until 1445, but in a brief period of play possible, Mullaney (7) edged the new ball from Groenewald to slip. Lumb’s magnificent effort which had runs all round the wicket went on and on and he reached his 200 off 267 balls to warm applause from the sparse crowd. Read’s disappointing 2013 season continued when he was comprehensively bowled by Mark Turner for 21, 394 for six.  Franks saw Notts to maximum batting points before playing on to Turner for eight. Adams did not hang around hitting two fours in a 7-ball 11, before holing out to Chanderpaul on the deep square leg boundary as Tuner picked up his third wicket. Lumb went past his career best of 219 made at Trent Bridge in 2009 playing for Hampshire with a six over long leg off Mark Footitt. The six brought up Footitt’s personnel ton as he finished on figures of 25-2-104-1. He still bowls rapidly but unfortunately with no greater accuracy than when he was first seen in 2005. Notts declared at 1650 with Gurney smashing Turner for four with the innings closing on 436 for eight declared. Lumb’s 221 not out came off 291 balls with 28 fours and one six. He now has three tons this season with a championship aggregate of 693 runs at average of 69.30.

Ed Cowan who may well play both tomorrow and at Truro due to Wessels’ bruised hand leaves with a championship average of 43.45 and an aggregate of 478 runs. He clearly found time to find his feet but he can pleased with his efforts although I am sure he will be disappointed that he didn’t convert one of four half-centuries into a ton. In my eyes he is a better championship batsman than Voges having to get his runs batting first up rather than coming in at five and six. He also integrated well with the dressing room and is a fine clubman. The argument though is whether Notts would be better served with an overseas bowler but getting the right man is easier said than done.

Day 3

Another outstanding innings by Michael Lumb ensured Notts ended day 3 with an unexpected batting point as Notts added 153 runs in 36.4 overs after a rain stoppage of two hours five minutes cut 20 overs off the day’s ration. Play began on time and in the 12th over of the day Johnson edged the impressive Adams to Read to depart for 22. Next over Groenewald edged Franks to Wessels at slip to depart for a duck, 336 for 8. Franks picked up his second wicket when Wainwright hit him straight to Cowan at point and Derby were now 337 for nine. Adams was taken off with figures of 24-3-69-4 and the Notts bowling to the last wicket pair was poor in the extreme bowling too short or too wide, the end result a frustrating partnership of 54 in 10 overs which was finally ended when the former Notts man Footitt (24) holed out to long on where Wessels took the a good catch, Patel being the bowler. Mark Turner was left on 23 not out. Adams was head and shoulders above the rest of the bowling, Gurney finishing with three for 94 and Franks 2 for 70. Notts were 13 for nought at lunch. Play got under way on time at 1340 for the afternoon session despite a lunchtime shower. In the sixth over Wessels retired hurt on 9 after being struck on the hand by Footitt. It appears no bones are broken just a case of bad bruising. Cowan hit Groenewald for three fours and then edged the South African to second slip where Hughes got the catch. Cowan out for 24, another case of him not pushing on. Shortly after a storm arrived with Notts 51 for one. Play recommenced at 1630 and Lumb who gave a change to slip when on 2 took full advantage of some pretty mediocre bowling from the bottom of the table side. Lumb reached 50 off 60 balls as Groenewald in particular was proving expensive. Taylor was proving excellent in rotating the strike. The partnership got to 121 in 30 overs until Taylor chopped Groenewald on to depart for 40, 168 for two.  Lumb and Taylor have been clearly Notts two top batsman in 2013. Lumb reached his ton off 120 balls as Notts sped to the first batting point. Patel proved easy picking for Derby bowlers; as everybody knows he cannot resist the short ball outside leg stump it was a case of Russian Roulette as he was fed his favourite morsel and it was not long before the ball was flicked to long leg where the grazing Chanderpaul took a simple catch, Footitt being the bowler. Patel gone for nine, Fletch came in for the night shift and survived 13 balls as Notts closed the day at 1858 on 204 for three. Lumb not out on 115, another fine effort with power to add. Propaganda suggests that desperate Derby captain Madsen wants to set a game up, however unless the weather radar suggests otherwise Read should point blankly turn the offer down. All weather forecasts suggest heavy showers this afternoon, so it should be the case of watching Lumb with his pads on rather than with ball in hand first thing this morning. MAG

Day 2

After yesterday’s bad bowling display, a much improved effort was thwarted by the weather gods as only 101 balls were possible due to persistent showers. Although, play got under a way on time it was halted after just three balls due to light drizzle. The players returned at 1125 and 15 minutes later after Madsen and Chanderpaul had added 20 to their overnight total, Derbyshire’s South African captain was leg before to the impressive Adams for a fine 74, 265 for three. Today was much more humid and with a bit of damp on the pitch aided by excessive swing, batting was much harder. Four overs later, Adams got Chanderpaul to play on, 13 runs short of what seemed an inevitable 100. The match situation had suddenly turned. Next over, Gurney bowling with pace and menace from the Radcliffe Road End got the clearly uncomfortable Durston to play onto his middle stump after bowling an in swinging Yorker. In his next over left hander Ben Slater chipped Gurney to mid on where Franks took the catch low down. Four wickets had gone down for 26. At 1230 the rain returned with Derby 300 for six after 81 overs. After a barrage of showers play recommenced at 1420 in dark sky, the General conceded six runs off five balls but heavy rain returned with Johnson 8 not out and Wainwright 6 not out with Derby 306 for six. Play was eventually called off at 1710 following an afternoon of heavy rain, shortly after which the sun came out! Adams' return to form proved most welcome. Gurney bowled with great hostility and has improved greatly this season; he now needs to add more consistency to his undoubted talents. He clearly is a thinking bowler, so he will get better with more experience. More showers are on the menu tomorrow.

 Day 1

A bad day at the office for Notts; winning the toss on a cloudy morning against the bottom club at Trent Bridge and then inserting the opposition would normally result in wickets. Unfortunately and despite the much awaited return of Andre Adams things did not go to plan.... Derby got off a solid start and despite Ed Cowan implying a helpful pitch in an interview yesterday the pitch turned out to be easy for batting and coupled with a lightning fast outfield, Notts were very much second best all day. Hughes tucked into Gurney early doors, hitting the left armer for four boundaries. But  he returned for another spell later in the morning had the misfortune to see both openers dropped off successive balls at second slip by Samit Patel, Both chances were within the catch nine times out of ten category as Godleman (19) and Hughes (28) were given second lives. Previously this season Patel’s slip catching had been of a high standard; it was clearly one of those days! Gurney’s luck changed though as a mistimed pull shot from the Chesney Hughes ballooned to Adams who took the catch at mid off. The Anguillan out for 59 an innings which contained nine fours. Derby went to lunch on 99 for one. Adams who had short burst around midday, came back for his second spell after lunch, Godleman’s edged his first delivery just short of Wessels at first slip, but in the same over the former Middlesex/Essex opener nicked one to Chris Read to depart for an 88-ball 28. Patel’s dropped catches had only cost 20 runs. Derby 100 for two after 32 overs. The general standard of the Notts bowling was not up to standard for the rest of the afternoon session, the ball was dropped short too many times and Chanderpaul was also fed too many leg stump half volleys. The net result an unbroken partnership of 145 off 33 overs as Madsen (67*) and Chanderpaul (78*) made hay and both innings are currently chanceless. Luckily as far as the home side were concerned only one over after tea was possible as the forecasted rain arrived to bring a premature end of the day with 31 overs unused. Derby now hold all the aces in this match standing at 245 for two.  Carol Kirkwood and co are predicting more rain tomorrow, Notts chances of winning this crucial fixture now seem somewhat remote. However it was not all doom and gloom, Andre got through the day unscathed and although bowling slightly within himself could be well pleased with figures 13-2-32-1. A fit Adams would undoubtedly transform Notts or any other team fortunes. MAG