v Sussex Sharks YB40 at Trent Bridge

Outlaws bitten by Sharks

A poor complacent batting performance saw Notts crash to a 50 run defeat at the hands of Sussex in front of a crowd of 8181 at TB last night, their first defeat in limited overs cricket this season.

On a sunny warm evening Sussex who were resting many senior players won the toss and elected to bat on a good batting surface. Notts made four changes from Truro; Hussey, Wessels, Ball and Gurney coming in; Cowan, Fletcher, White and Wood dropping out.

Nash and Wright added 36 runs before Wright (24) edged Gurney to Read. Gurney picked up his second wicket when Hamilton-Brown skied to Hussey at cover. Seven overs later Mullaney took a smart caught and bowled as he outfoxed Nash (40) with a change of pace. Left handers Machan and skipper Joyce added 90 in 16 overs. Mullaney who was at his economical best went for 13 in the last over, after only conceding 23 in the previous seven. Hussey on his return bowled 5-0-26-0. Joyce was stumped by Read off Patel for 58; 173 for five. Next over, Gatting edged Shahzad to Read to depart for a duck.

Sussex took the batting power play and Gurney returned from the Pavilion End, keeper Ben Brown fell to catch by Taylor at backward point as the left armer took his third wicket. Matt Machan who has appeared for Scotland in this seasons competition run a ball 68 was finally ended when he was bowled by Gurney, 210 for seven. Next ball Liddle was bowled as Gurney picked up in fifth wicket. Sussex eventually closed on 223 for nine with Gurney finishing with 7-0-48-5.

Sussex with a weakened batting and bowling line up were probably 25 runs short of par on a good pitch with a fast outfield, it should have been an easy run chase for Notts.

Lumb hit three fours before being bowled via inside edge by debutant Matthew Hobden for 13. The Eastbourne born right arm seamer has made four first-class appearances for Cardiff MCCU.

Hales (7) extremely fortunate to keep his place given his complete lack of form, predictably departed chasing a widish ball from former Bear Andrew Miller, Hamilton Brown took a good catch above is head at point, 29 for two and Notts were already struggling.

Patel and Taylor added 71 in 16 overs, but they were both guilty of allowing too many dot balls. Patel threw his wicket away skiing Liddle to Joe Gatting at mid off for a 60-ball 45. Notts now needed 124 in 19 overs. Hussey fresh of the plane did not look in particularly good touch but he did he Liddle for one six. He though become the second Notts batsman to throw it way being caught at long on off Will Beer’s leg breaks for 14. Next over, Wessels played a poor shot to a nothing ball from Liddle to be caught behind for a single, 127 for five. Read completely out of form with the bat in 2013 came in next when perhaps Mullaney was the more obvious choice. The captain only lasted four overs before becoming yet another batsman to play a poor shot being caught at mid off Luke Wright being the bowler; 151 for six. Taylor who had like at Scarborough got somewhat bogged down fell leg before attempting a reverse sweep to Nash for a 69-ball 48 an innings that included just two fours, one edged effort through the vacant first slip  area, 151 for seven.

Notts were now in big trouble and the only obvious solution with nine overs left was to take the batting power play. Unfortunately their tactics seemed to be written in tablets of stone and the power play was pre programmed to be taken at 36 overs. Shahzad holed out to Beer as the procession was never ending. Ball lasted three balls before departing bowled by Liddle. Notts finally took the power play one over ahead of schedule, Mullaney hit the first ball of it for four, but Gurney was the last lemming of the cliff being caught at backward point as Notts were all out for a woeful 173 with 25 balls unused. The wicket had lost some of it’s pace as the night wore on, but a more calculated effort would have seen Notts home. The batting which has been the key to their success in the YB40 competition this season; for once it had failed. Notts should be generally well pleased with bowling and fielding effort on the night. Left armer Liddle finished with three for 21 but Sky gave the man of the match award to Matt Machan. Not a good night for Notts. They now have a seven week break until the next 40 over game, they now probably require two wins from four games to qualify for the semi-finals. MAG

............................................................................................................................
During the media stuff at Trent Bridge, where David Hussey embarked on his eighth stint for Nottinghamshire, it was announced that the mercurial Australian will not be leaving at the end of August but will remain until the end of the season.

With it throwing in down (with rain) this evening, fingers are crossed from a brighter evening tomorrow (21st) for Huss' season debut against Sussex Sharks in the Outlaws' eighth YB40 game of 2013.


Alex Hales is expected to get some further form-finding practice, this time with two white ball games against New Zealand, in T20Is at the Oval next week (along with Michael Lumb), both should return for the Outlaws clash with the Foxes on Friday evening (28th). Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann aren't risked for the matches so Eoin Morgan captains in the slogathons.