v Middlesex LV= at Lord's

Notts net two bowling points

Day 4: Play got underway at 1310 after a morning of light drizzle at a dank Lord’s yesterday. Only a week before the big final only a couple of hundred spectators turned up to watch Middlesex gain four batting points and Notts two invaluable bowling points.

Rogers and Robson made untroubled progress early on, they put on their third consecutive hundred partnership as Chris Rogers reached his ton off 142 balls with 11 fours and one six off Harry Gurney over backward cover. Rogers went for a pull shot off Adams bowling from the Nursery End but skied the ball to Fletcher at mid on who took an easy catch, Rogers gone for 108, 151 for one. In his next over Adams got Robson to nick one to Read as he departed for a dour 41 made off 127 balls with just two fours. Malan on 13 was lucky to survive a dropped catch at slip by Hussey, the Australian not a regular slipper in 2013 should have held onto the chance but only succeeded in cutting his finger. He departed the action for the rest of the afternoon as sub fielder Jake Ball got a taste of Lord’s. Luckily the drop did not prove costly as on the stroke of tea Notts picked up their first point as Malan (15) missed a drive and lost his off stump to Patel, 211 for three.

The sky was extremely dark and it looked unlikely that resumption would be made but thankfully the dark clouds blew away during the tea interval as news filtered through that Derby had spectacularly collapsed against Durham. Denly was hitting the ball well and added 34 runs with Neil Dexter. One over from Gurney cost 17, but the left armer got his revenge ending Denly’s 76-ball 63 by superbly bowling him, 245 for four. Four overs later, Dexter (9) was caught in the gulley by Lumb via thick edge, 252 for five. Simpson and Berg added a further 42 runs in 12 overs until the returning Adams with the new ball caught the South African/Italian/Brit Berg (delete where applicable) low down off his own bowling. Rayner departed soon after leg before for nine, 314 for seven. But that it was it for Notts as left hander Simpson (51 not out) safely saw Middlesex through to their fourth batting point as they declared instantaneously with five balls of the day left unused. Adams once again had bowled well with four for 98 and was well supported by Gurney (two for 81). Fletcher struggling to get lift from the flat pitch remained wicket less; The General meanwhile did not get a bowl on the last day.

Notts now face an extremely tricky fixture up in Durham where the home side are on the verge of their third title. First innings scores at The Riverside are normally on the very low side, so Notts bonus points haul could be limited to just three bowling points. With Notts having a potential game 16 showdown with Somerset to come, Derbyshire with nine defeats seem all but doomed. Notts fate could well hinge on Surrey’s performance in Birmingham this week against the heavily depleted Bears.  

Day 3 Rain prevented any play all day.

Notts capture four batting points from HQ

Day 2: On a wicket that is getting increasingly flat the possibility of a positive result seems unlikely at Lord’s at the end of the second day of 4, particularly as Saturday’s weather forecast suggests a lot of rain.

Mullaney got his much deserved ton early in the proceedings of Day 2 and his hundred was celebrated vociferously by a few hundred school children at the bottom deck of the Edrich Stand. His ton had come off 208 balls with 11 fours; his second in London this season. Batting was much more difficult on the opening day; the value to his team of this century was immense.

The new ball was taken on time and Titch Taylor (9) never looked in; it was no surprise that he departed leg before to Tim Murtagh bowling from the Nursery End; 193 for three. Patel increased the scoring rate as 44 runs were added in eight overs. Mullaney then pulled Gareth Berg but he did not get enough power behind the shot and was easily caught by Dexter at deep square leg. Mullaney in his first bat at Headquarters had made 125 off 254 balls with 13 fours; 237 for four.  Hussey looking fluent from the off on the now somnolent pitch joined Patel and the scoring rate further increased. Notts though still went to lunch needing a further 84 runs off 11 overs to secure a very unlikely fourth batting point.

However the crowd were treated to festival-like cricket during the 40 minutes after lunch as the ball was deposited all over Lords. Hussey hit a massive six off left-armer Sandhu that woke up the tomato and egg brigade in the Pavilion. An outstanding slip catch diving high and wide to his right by Ollie Rayner off the disappointing Harris saw Patel depart for a 65-ball 47, Notts 297 for five, 53 runs required now off 34 balls.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5d434O5Sak&feature=youtu.be
 Andre Adams was promoted up the order and the tactical change got Notts an unexpected point; as the Kiwi went aerial eventually hitting five sixes. His opening salvo was a six over extra cover a single then saw Hussey take the strike he then deposited the hapless Harris for another six as his over eventually cost 17 runs along with Patel’s wicket. Adams pulled Rayner for a couple of sixes near the proximity of the Q stand and the 50 stand was brought up in 25 balls as Notts got to 350 with an over unused. The entertainment was first class. Unfortunately with score standing on 357 for five, Grim Tim cut short the party by removing the players off the field for a 35 minute bad light stoppage; the only people in danger were the crowd ducking for cover, common sense had departed the scene momentarily. When the players eventually re-emerged Hussey departed straight way as the deserving Berg picked up his second wicket as Simpson took the catch behind the stumps, Hussey gone for 67 off 64 balls with six fours and three sixes. Adams and Read added a further 73 in 18 overs until Adams holed out on the long on as Rogers took the catch parrying the ball back into play to complete his effort. Adams 80 came off 76 balls. Notts 430 for seven declared off 129.5 overs. Read was left undefeated on 27.

Tea was taken between the innings as the promised sunshine finally arrived. Adams opened the bowling off a short run from the Pavilion End caused some early problems with openers Robson and Rogers looking for their third opening partnership of over 100 runs against Notts this season. Franks bowled a poor spell from the Nursery End as his six overs went for 26 runs, as the Geberal could not get a consistent line. Gurney who came on from Pavilion End looked the most impressive of the five bowlers used by Captain Read getting pace and bounce from the placid pitch. However Middlesex got to the close with 96 for 0 off 35 overs with Rogers on 67 and Robson on 28, as Notts target three priceless bowling points today.

Mullaney and Lumb dig in

Day One: Notts battled hard on the first day of their fixture against Middlesex at Lord’s on a slow wicket but were eventually thwarted by bad light in the capital.

Middlesex won the toss and elected to bowl as Newell perhaps somewhat belatedly dropped Hales and Shahzad as Wessels retained his place and Franks came in.

On a dark dank day batting was never easy. Mullaney got off the mark with a sharp single which turned into a five as the ball ricocheted following a direct hit to the stumps for four overthrows. Makeshift openers Wessels and Mullaney added 43 in 16 overs. Dexter who had the bowl of his life (9-1-27-5) at Trent Bridge in April made the first incision as Wessels (14) not moving his feet edged to gulley where Sam Robson took a simple catch. Berg bowled a testing spell from the Pavilion End as Lumb played and missed repeatedly but somehow the left handed survived. Despite not taking any wickets in the morning session the ball was moving all over the place as Middlesex skipper kept four slips and gulley in place.

Mullaney was the more fluent of the batsman but it still took him 133 balls to reach his 50. There was a stoppage as Lumb was hit midships by left armer Sandhu but he carried on once he got his breath back. Mullaney survived a stumping chance off Ollie Rayner as the second wicket stand reached 115 in 51 overs, a slow moving but invaluable partnership. Eventually Lumb top edged a sweep of Rayner and was caught at deep square leg by Dexter for a patient 54 off 171 balls with seven fours. Grim Tim was too officious with his bad light judgment as players departed for a 30 minute break. Two more runs were added but this time the light was poor as Notts closed on 161 for two in the 70^th over with Mullaney unbeaten on 88 off 193 balls off 10 fours. Mullaney had once again maximized his ability to great effect; a fine effort. Both teams are standing with zero points to their name after the first day. Today’s forecast suggests a dry but cloudy day so the bad light threat remains. Friday and Saturday’s forecast suggest patchy rain as the match appears to be heading for battle for bonus points.

MAG