v Somerset YB40 Semi Final at Trent Bridge

Somerset implode as Outlaws have a Ball

Notts broke their Somerset hoodoo in emphatic style as the Wurzels were hung, drawn and quartered at Trent Bridge last night; as they progressed to their first limited overs final at Lord’s since 1989.

Notts putting out their normal 40 over XI won the toss and elected to bowl as a torrential afternoon shower delayed the start by 50 minutes as the match became a 35 over affair.

Marcus Trescothick lasted four balls before edging the impressive Gurney to Read, 0 for one. Kieswetter attacked Ball and Shahzad and hit two sixes and two fours in his 20-ball 22, but edged a poor ball from Shahzad as Read took his second catch. The dangerous Trego and Compton added 25 in five over before Compton (14) was fooled by a Mullaney slower ball and skied the ball into the covers where Hussey took a well judged catch running towards The Fridge. James Hildreth (5) lasted six balls but lost his middle stump to Jake Ball, 73 for 4 as the home crowd of 4,000 were getting more and more excited at fall of each passing wicket. Trego had got to 40  but was fooled by another Mull slow ball as he hit the ball tamely back to the bowler who took the catch at his feet, 91 for five. Somerset were now well on the ropes but the knock out blows came in the following seven overs. Gregory (12) repeated Trego’s dismissal as fell to another caught and bowling from Mullaney, 102 for 6. Chawla lasted three balls before edging Ball as Read took his third catch of the innings, 112 for seven in the 23^rd over.

Next over, Ball took two wickets in two balls with well pitched up balls which rapped the batsmen's pads.  Alfonso Thomas (1) and Jamie Overton for a golden duck were his victims, as former Ciderman Jeremy Lloyds raised the finger. Ball was having the game of his life and and was man of the match with 5-0-25-4 to his name; he has bowled consistently well throughout 2013 YB 40 campaign and this performance could be the real turning point of his career. Shahzad picked up the last wicket as the fiery Kirby departed leg before to a ball looking like it was drifting down leg. Somerset 119 all out off 25.4. Gurney’s frugal opening salvo (4-0-11-1) had almost been forgotten amongst the carnage as Mullaney had bowled his seven overs straight through for figures of three for 35, Shahzad meanwhile had figures of 4.4-0-23-2.

A brief shower just 10 balls into Notts reply could not stop the Green and Gold momentum as they raced to the target at 7.46 RPO with a massive 112 balls unused. Hales (5) fell leg before straight after the match re-started, but Lumb was in imperious form smashing 46 off 38 balls with 10 fours as Somerset were well and truly demoralised. Chawla with hands in his pockets looked like he would have preferred to anywhere but Trent Bridge on a cold dark September night. Lumb eventually fell much like Kieswetter to a thin edge off a poor ball, England hopeful Jamie Overton being the lucky bowler. Taylor played sheet anchor as Patel smashed a 26-ball 43 with eight fours as Notts got home at 2020 by eight wickets. Kirby’s pantomime villain antics were enjoyed by the crowd as the ball was being smashed to all parts.

So Notts have a final to look forward against the unfashionable Welshmen; they will start the match as strong favourites hopeful of gaining their first limited overs trophy since 1991. Hopefully this brilliant team performance will have a knock on effect as we travel to Lord’s tomorrow for an absolutely crucial championship fixture. The Somerset bogey had been well and truly smashed as the visitors much like at Taunton a month earlier looked a demoralized and dispirited outfit.

Criced Morgannwg head for Lord's

Surprisingly, Glamorgan won the first of the YB40 semi-finals, defeating Hampshire at their own Armitage Shanks Bowl by 31 runs, Man of the Match with bat (74*) and ball (8-1-18-2) was James Allenby, a man often a thorn in Notts' side in his Leicester days; Dimitri Mascarenhas signing-off his career with a defeat to a standing ovation.

The countdown to the second semi-final has begun on the Notts website but someone needs to tell David Hussey it's not PRO 40 anymore, even if it does sound more worthwhile winning than either CB40 or the current YB40.