v Worcestershire Royals YB40 at Trent Bridge

Poor display by Outlaws

A quite woeful performance by Notts saw then comprehensively beaten by 38 runs by a severely depleted Worcestershire side.

A heavy mid-afternoon shower saw the game become a 37-over affair starting at 1645. The fallout from the Essex debacle continued as another sparse attendance of 2,605 braved a cool night.

Notts were unchanged from the Northants match. Worcestershire Moeen Ali and Shantry apart had extremely weak bowling line up; they were clearly there for the taking.

Unfortunately and in a reprise of a previous floodlight game against Sussex earlier this season, Notts appeared to both lackadaisical and complacent in their approach to the game.

Read won the toss and inserted Worcester. Ali and Mitchell added 58 off the first 10 overs before the newly capped Steve Mullaney bowling from the Pavilion End had Ali caught low down in front of The Fridge by Hales for 28. Kervezee and Mitchell added a further 49 in nine overs as Patel proved very ineffective for the third game running; once again failing to complete his spell. Kervezee’s run a ball 31 ended when he was caught by Wessels off Shahzad, who proved expensive on the night. Mitchell had an aberration and hit Shahzad straight to Mullaney at midwicket as “Number One” picked up his second wicket; 121 for three. Samaraweera put back to ball scoring 38 off 30 balls, before falling leg before to Ball. Newly signed Ross Whiteley survived three run out attempts as Notts fielders had a 100% record on the night of missing the stumps. He though departed as Mullaney caught him off Shahzad for 6. Worcestershire were losing their way in the batting power play, Cox edged Gurney to Read. Tom Fell who struggled all night to impose himself fell to caught and bowled by Gurney for a 33-ball 25 as he skied the ball in the air and Gurney took an easy catch running to his left. Worcestershire eventually closed on 220 for eight off 37 overs, a total that looked 20 or so under par. Gurney (8-0-39-2) and Ball (7-0-38-2) were the pick of the bowlers.

Hales and Lumb added 36 in 26 balls, as List A debutant Graeme Cessford a former RAF man went for four fours in the fourth over of the innings.  Lumb (11) edged Shantry to slip, and then in the 11^th over Hales (31) edged Hereford born right arm seamer Charlie Morris into Cox’s gloves. Patel continued his poor form with 7-ball one getting a leading edge to the impressive Ali and being caught at cover by Whiteley. It got far worse as both Hussey and Wessels threw their wickets away. Hussey who had to put his head down gave Kervezee catching practice as he was caught on the square leg ropes. Wessels after reverse sweeping one four tried another sweep as he was leg before to Ali for 6; 83 for five after 18 overs. Read edged his first ball fortuitously for four, and decided to hit his way back into form, his bright and breezy cameo ended when he skied Whiteley as Shantry took the catch at wide mid off. Read’s 25 came off 19 balls.

Mullaney and Taylor were Notts last hope, the batting power play had to be taken with these two at the crease but unfortunately this was not on the pre-written script, Outlaws' last opportunity of getting back in the game had gone. Taylor belatedly found the ropes but after 40 had been added in six overs; Mullaney ran himself out for 11. Shahzad departed two overs later falling to a catch at backward point for 10 as the expensive Cessford picked up his maiden limited overs wicket. Taylor and Ball glanced up to the dressing room and finally the batting power play was taken with six overs left, but we only had two wickets in the locker....the spirit of Baldrick lives on. Ball was comprehensively bowled with the first ball of the power play his middle stump cart wheeling back. Gurney was last to fall departing for a duck as Taylor finished with 67 not out with just three boundaries. Ali put Samit’s efforts in perspective with figures of 8-0-28-3 a fine spell well backed up by Charlie Morris and Jack Shantry.

A dispiriting night and Notts now need to win at either Sussex or Kent to ensure semi-final qualification, Notts have struggled at historically at both Hove and Canterbury in limited overs cricket. Notts play the Tigers reserve side today, I expect Notts to field a second eleven side although certain first team players would gain from having time in the middle.

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Congratulations to England in nailing the Ashes series at Chester le Street, winning this evening by 74 runs.

Stuart Broad 11/121 in the match

Notts 15/222 in the match