v Yorkshire Vikings FLT20 at Trent Bridge

Vikings hit to Valhalla by Hales

A heavily under strength Yorkshire team were comfortably beaten with 23 balls unused by an eager Notts team last night who have now qualified for the last eight of the Twenty/20 competition.

On another sunny balmy evening, visiting captain Rafiq won the toss and elected to bat in front of a 10,148 crowd. The pitch which will also used against Lancashire on Sunday was well on Fox Road side of the square. Yorkshire had two Twenty/20 debutants in Alex Lees and Will Rhodes, key men Sidebottom, Gale and Rashid were all rested and Phil Jaques remains injured.

Adam Lyth was dropped off the first ball of the innings by Patel at second slip off Harry Gurney bowling from the Radcliffe Road End. Lees fell in the second over of the innings bowled by Patel; for one. In the fourth over of the innings, Dan Hodgson (8), keeper for the night instead of rested Andrew Hodd was well caught on the square leg ropes by Graeme White in front of Fox Road Stand, 17 for two. 

Left handers Lyth and Ballance added 46 in six overs as Ball’s and Butler’s first overs from the Radcliffe Road End proved expensive going for a combined total of 27 runs. Patel though was proving frugal and was replaced by the equally economical White. In the tenth Ballance holed out to long on off White for a 19-ball 30. Next over Lyth (23) played on to Jake Ball who was getting the ball to move around on the two paced pitch; 66 for 4 in the 11^th. Inexperience pair Jack Leaning (son of former York City custodian Andy) and Nottingham born Will Rhodes got bogged down as only five runs came from two overs. Then came the inevitable mix up as Leaning slipped up and was run out by yards, 71 for five. Pyrah put bat to ball as Yorkshire desperately tried to get to a competitive total. Gurney returned and bowled Rhodes for a 19-ball 13, the sixth wicket having added 37. Pyrah was out in the last over falling to well judged running catch by Mullaney in front of the L+V; his innings of 42 came off just 25 balls. Only two sixes had been hit despite the short boundary as Yorkshire closed on 132 for seven, probably 30 under par. White had figures of 4-0-17-1 and Patel who bowled the last over of the innings 4-0-17-3. Gurney’s last two balls went to the ropes but he still finished with 4-0-27-1.

Notts got off to shaky start losing Lumb (6) and Patel (2) both out to full tosses. Yorkshire though were serving up plenty of pudding bowling, Hales profited and sped to 62 off just 38 balls. At times he was a tad lucky but fortune favoured the brave, having hit Rafiq for two towering sixes off successive balls, he tried again off the next but skied to Ballance at deep mid on. The man of the match innings included four fours and five sixes; the crowd well and truly enjoyed the knock and he left to a standing ovation. It was easy now, Hussey not quite at his best scored 28 off 30 balls. Wessels replacing Titch Taylor, training for a England spot down at Hove, had a chance in the middle to finish on an undefeated 18 and with Read (9*) saw Notts to 133 for four. Mullaney had neither batted nor bowled.

Notts now need to defeat Lancashire on Sunday to get the home quarter final, another large crowd is expected tomorrow despite the indifferent forecast. This was a welcome return to form for Notts albeit against disinterested opponents who have much more things to aim for being top of the championship. The Red Rose will prove much stronger opponents as Notts have home advantage plus knowledge of the pitch to be used as Murdoch TV will come for the second time this week. MAG

.......................................................................................................................................... ECB trade-off following the stealing of James Taylor for the Australian 2nd XI game at Hove, rules have been changed to allow Graeme White to compete for Outlaws if we qualify for the knock-out stages of the FLT20.

A tie against Sticklebacks would be interesting....................................but what is the point of having rules if when they become awkward  you just change them?
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Notts Outlaws with critical weekend fixtures in the FLT20, were given a dramatic boost by Andy Flower as James Taylor, ever-present in each of Notts' recent defeats, was called to play a red ball game at Hove for a Sussex XI against some of the Australian touring squad who will be captained by Eddie Cowan for the three day game starting on Friday.

The Australians who claim to be united and not a split group will have players in both Hove and London for the weekend.

"We want to provide James the best possible opportunity to be prepared to play in the third Test should he be required," said Nottinghamshire's Director of Cricket Mick Newell.

"Whilst clearly he is an important player for us and will be missed in our Friends Life t20 matches on Friday and Sunday we have a proud record of producing players for England.

"We remain in close contact with James and the ECB regarding the situation and hope that he can make a contribution and be selected."

Watch out for a return for Riki Wessels on Friday.