v Warwickshire LV= at Trent Bridge

Day Four Wash Out

Overnight and today's rain has forced the abandonment of the match - Notts take 10 points but are only 6 points clear of Derbyshire who beat Somerset by a nervy 2 wickets at sunny Taunton.

Fletch inspires Notts

A fine workmanlike bowling display ensured Notts require 211 runs to defeat Warwickshire as a potentially exciting day has been set up. Unfortunately, the weathermen are predicting a 90% chance of a last day washout, so all our efforts maybe scuppered by the rain gods. Just to add salt into the wounds a dry day is forecast in Taunton tomorrow.

Javid (24) who was dropped early on at slip by Patel off the unlucky Adams perished in the 31st over of the innings as he chased a wide one from Shahzad as Read took the catch, 81 for three. Shahzad looked innocuous with ball once more; he is well down on his pace compared to a few years ago when he fractured Hales’ jaw. Clearly showing 100% effort, he appears to have lost a bit of rhythm, he needs a rest and Franks or Jake Ball need to be given a chance. The rest of the bowling was generally more than adequate with Gurney bowling much better than in the first innings being given advice from the sidelines by part-time bowling coach Mike Hendrick. Just like yesterday Woakes was involved in a dismissal on the stroke of lunch, this time he was the victim bowled by Patel for 23, 126 for four. Luke Evans though had appeared an immovable object throughout the session. However things changed after lunch as Evans was caught at short leg off Harry Gurney bowling from the Pavilion End. Evans made 63 in an innings lasting 128 balls including 11 fours. A thorn in Notts side once again.

Piolet looked less solid and was dropped on nine, a swirling chance to Patel who had thus spilled his second chance of the day. The miss cost 21 runs as Piolet was caught by the running Hussey at deep mid wicket off workhouse Luke Fletcher, 177 for six.

But Warwickshire were not giving up easily, Maddy batting win a runner although looking in little discomfort was proving particularly obdurate on the flat deck. He added 31 in 14 overs with Barker, until the left hander Barker edged Fletcher (with the recently taken new ball) to Read who took an easy catch. Patel lasted seven overs until playing a loose shot off Gurney as he was caught for 16 in the covers by Hussey, 237 for eight.

We then had the extremely rare situation of both batsman batting with runners as the crocked McKay joined Maddy, Westwood and Javid being their partners. Notts had to wait another 13 overs before making their next breakthrough as McKay survived a dolly of a drop catch by Hales at first slip, Adams once again being the unfortunate bowler. Fletcher never gave in though as he replaced the Kiwi and took the final two, Maddy’s 146 ball vigil ended as he was leg before for a fine 65 on what will probably be his final first class appearance. Chambers lasted 18 balls before departing leg before to Fletcher for 4, Warwickshire 271 all out on a fascinating day of championship cricket. Fletcher bowled superbly again with figures of 23.3-7-52-5 and Adams looking once more back to normal self deserved much better than his single wicket.

We have to hope and pray that the forecasted rain does not arrive as Notts attempt to get a rare and deserved championship victory. They though should take heart from their performance over the last three days albeit against a much weakened Bears line up. Fletcher and Adams are bowling well and with Taylor now back in the line up, hope still remains that the elusive victory may still come. At last Notts have taken 20 wickets in a match and hopefully at 10 points tomorrow..

Patel and Wessels lead batting fight back

Notts had much the better of the second day of this fixture, finishing the day with a 34 run lead with Warwick having eight second innings wickets standing.

Notts weathered the early morning storm as Mullaney and Patel survived the first hour, both batting patiently and sensibly. Mullaney (28) though momentarily lost his concentration and chipped the ball to third man off Piolet where Chambers took the catch; 78 for four. Barker meanwhile had been belatedly given a first warning from umpire Evans for running on the wicket. Patel and Hussey added 58 runs in 12 overs as the scoring rate steadily increased. On the stroke of lunch Woakes who only bowled five overs all day got one to move off the seam and Hussey (28) inside edged it to sub keeper Jamie Atkinson who has represented Hong Kong in List A cricket. Notts went to lunch on a relatively unhealthy 136 for five, but a much better state than 14 for three.

Patel was batting with great maturity reining in his natural attacking instinct and Wessels finally finding form after a season interrupted by a succession of niggling injuries. The pitch was getting far easier to bat on and Patel reached his ton off 162 balls to good applause from a fair sized crowd enjoying a warm September day. Patel opened up once he got three figures and he edged Maddy’s dibbly dobblers to sub keeper Atkinson who parried the ball to Piolet at slip, Patel out for 117 off 171 balls with 18 fours, a superb innings, Notts now 237 for six.

Poor Read who looked like he finally broke through with his half-century against Yorkshire looked completely out of form and after 26 balls without getting off the mark, was out hitting Chambers straight to Maddy at cover; 251 for seven. Shahzad put his head down and with Wessels looking in fine form added a valuable 40 until Wessels was run out following a direct hit from Chris Woakes. Wessels particularly strong with the straight drive had scored a season best innings of 77 off 137 with 12 fours; he now departs the game to be replaced by Titch Taylor. The crowd were then treated to a typical Adams happy half hour as hit six fours and two sixes in a highly entertaining 46 that knocked the stuffing out of the Bears. The fourth batting point had been reached when Barker had him caught at deep square leg by Westwood. Barker had earlier received his second and final warning for running on the pitch. Shahzad (28) fell to catch at wide mid off trying to steal the strike. Notts all out for 359 a lead of 61 runs, the Notts batsman had shown great determination to get their team back into the game. The runs had been made at 4.22 RPO, a highly entertaining day. the brisk Chambers finished with four for 79, although his figures took a bit of battering from Adams.

Fletcher clean bowled Westwood for two and Adams replacing Shahzad from the Pavilion End removed danger man Chopra with his first ball to a leg before decision. Adams has bowled well throughout the match finally finding his MoJo after months struggling with various injuries. Warwick closed on 27 for two at the close. Notts must make early in roads tomorrow before the new ball loses its effectiveness. The pitch appears to getting flatter as the match progresses. The Met Office is still making a prediction of a total wash out for Friday.

Notts semi-conscious and on the ropes, again! 

An appalling start to first innings has left Notts in serious relegation trouble against a virtual Warwickshire second team. Without Trott, Bell, Porterfield, Troughton, Clarke, Ambrose, Wright and Rankin the Bears should be there for the taking. Unfortunately poor support bowling and dire batting has left Notts in perilous position.

Notts won the toss and elected to bowl on a day where wickets were falling at a rapid rate up and down the country. The openers survived 14 overs until Adams who looked much more like old self had Westwood caught behind for 10, 35 for one. Javid survived 14 balls but did not get off the mark before top edging Gurney to Mullaney who took an easy catch at second slip. Chopra and Evans lasted 18 overs and added 63 runs before Fletcher had the Warwickshire opener edging to the diving Read, Chopra gone for a well-made 76. Next over, Evans (32) who made a big ton against Notts two months ago fell to another smart catch by Read off Adams. Piolet received a nasty throat ball from Fletcher and only succeeded in edging the ball to Read, 126 for five. Woakes and Maddy got into a terrible mix up; Woakes slipped up and lost his bat, end result Woakes run out 1, 136 for six, and Notts were well on top. Maddy and Barker (13) added 43 runs before the former Rochdale and Blackburn Rovers player edged Adams to slip. Maddy had atoned for running out Woakes by reaching 47 before top edging Adams to Gurney who took a well judged catch at long leg, 192 for eight.

Fletcher and Adams were bowling superbly but unfortunately the support bowling was not up to scratch. Shahzad all effort but no end product and Gurney who was having an off day let the visitors off the hook. A long stoppage to a leg injury to keeper McKay meant that Westwood came out as a runner. Patel as too often this season appeared to just turning his arm over. Heads were dropping and the captaincy lacked imagination, why weren’t Hussey or Mullaney given a whirl? End result Patel and McKay added 88 priceless runs in 25 overs. Fletcher and Shahzad took the new ball and the Bulwell man bowling his heart out earnt his Porridge once more by removing Mr McKay caught at slip by Mullaney for 37 and last man Chambers who edged to first slip. Warwickshire all out for 298 at least 70 runs more than they should have got. Jeetan Patel showed great character with a fine 66 not out off 76 balls; a very good value for money overseas player. Notts catching was first rate and Adams (4 for 77) and Fletcher (4 for 56) should be well pleased with their lionhearted efforts. The continued absence of Franks from the championship line up is in my opinion is a travesty.

Five overs remained and talk amongst the crowd was how many wickets Notts were likely to lose. Matthew Cross (the Notts Academy and Saltires keeper) deputised behind the stumps for McKay as Hales had brain failure and inexplicitly shouldered arms to a ball that took out his middle stump and incidentally broke a bail. Hales gone for a duck, Barker being the bowler. The umpires though need to keep a close eye on the left armer as he appeared to be repeatedly running on the pitch. Maurice Chambers who has appeared to have lost a great deal of weight since we last encountered him three years ago then picked up two wickets Fletcher was bowled for two to a ball that kept low and then Lumb flashed at a wide one and departed like Hales for a golden duck caught by Chopra at slip. Chambers who had two excellent matches in 2010 against the Green and Gold had trialled for the Notts seconds only a fortnight ago, but the powers that be decided to stick with the attack that failed too many times in 2013 and he was instead picked up The Bears.  Notts 14 for three at the close. Ouch!

What next? Presumably Taylor will arrive to replace Wessels tomorrow, the middle order has got to earn their corn and show collective fighting spirit sadly missing against The Tykes. heavy rain is forecast for Friday the follow on must be avoided at all costs, particularly as Notts over rate currently stands at minus one!     

Dodging the R word.

Nottinghamshire will this week play their most important Championship fixture of the season so far; whilst there has been little talk of it so far from official sources. Until Monday night

The club are not wanting to talk about the "R" word, which is fair enough, but this has been at the expense of prioritising the fixture with Warwickshire, starting Tuesday at Trent Bridge.

World-ranked No. 1 T20I batsman, Alex Hales returns with Michael Lumb, his mentor from England T20I duty as will, possibly, James Taylor from ODI duty after the Ireland game (what's the point of this game) mid-game. {Notts have announced the same XI that lost so badly to Yorkshire, so no place for a returning Taylor}

One player not available is Graeme White who's gone back to Wantage Road for their last 3 championship promotion push games - a permanent return looking almost certain if they do come-up, especially if Notts do the reverse. Notts have disappointed all season at Trent Bridge, with the exception of the Captain Taylor game verses Surrey and targeting a means of taking 20 wickets must be top of the D of C's list of problems to be solved before 10.30AM on Tuesday.

Last time a better, result reaching wicket was produced but Ryan Sidebottom bowled on it much better than his former employers' current bowlers did, Yorkshire scoring far too many runs in the first innings and winning the game by a mile in three days. 

With Surrey beating Derbyshire in the battle at the bottom today; we have now officially won the same number of games as the bottom side.

The time to find those winning ways is here now.