v Somerset LV= at Trent Bridge

Season ends with a draw

The last day of the county season was very anti-climatic as the match drifted towards a bore draw on a day of glorious unbroken sunshine.

Patel and Taylor batted an hour as 71 runs were added to the overnight score, Samit then edged to Buttler and slip as Gregory picked up his sole wicket of the innings. Patel gone for 29; 200 for four.

Hussey came out for his last bat a great ovation but lasted three balls before edging Thomas to slip to depart for a single. Two overs later Titch Taylor chased a wide one from Thomas and was caught behind for 55, 202 for six. On the stroke of lunch, Franks (2) became Butler’s third victim at slip in the morning as Thomas picked up another wicket, 210 for seven.

The game drifted after lunch as Hutton having a fine championship debut with the bat and Read saw Notts out of danger. Thomas was bowling very wide of off stump as the game become somnolent. The new ball was taken and the final three wickets fell quickly. Hutton (42)  was beaten for pace by Overton and lost his off stump. Fletcher lasted seven balls before edging Trego to Kieswetter. Three balls later Gurney was comprehensively bowled as Notts were 298 all out with Read 52 not out; only his second championship half-century of the season. The skipper had clearly decided that bowling the Cider-men on the featherbed wicket was an impossible task.

Somerset required a nominal 333 runs off 45 overs. They never attempted the chase. Trescothick (14) hit a long hop from Hutton straight to Taylor at square leg as the Worksop College pupil picked up a notable first championship scalp. Compton survived a confident leg before shout next ball. Patel bowled 11 overs needing one wicket to gain the county MVP title he failed in his mission as Moeen Ali claimed the title. The game finished with Mullaney bowling off spin in tandem with Patel. Jones finished on 55 and Compton on 25 as stumps were drawn on the season at 1630 with Somerset on 101 for one. Notts finished in seventh place behind Somerset who had more wins.

Notts ended the season with a run of 12 championship games without a win. The close season will be a long one for Mick Newell as extensive rebuilding needs to take place. The whole structure of the playing staff needs examining not just the first team squad; The Academy is clearly not producing enough players of potential first team quality. But Notts are one of only three counties to win a trophy in the dry summer of 2013, so it was from all doom and gloom. Lord’s 2013 will live longer in the memory. My championship highlight was the last day against Surrey at Trent Bridge when Notts gained an unexpected victory that ultimately kept them up.

The 2014 season starts on Sunday April 13^th in 28 weeks time....have a good winter every one. MAG

Derbyshire drop as Harry takes five

Notts and Somerset will go to final day of the Championship season knowing they will be playing each other in Division One in 2014, after Derbyshire rolled over and died against The Bears and lost by an innings.

Hildreth and Compton took their third wicket stand to 248 runs in the morning sunshine. Patel then produced his arm ball which yorked Compton for 87; an innings which contained 13 fours and one six. Almost at the same time as this dismissal Derbyshire’s relegation was confirmed. At last after months of struggle both teams could relax. On the stroke of lunch, Kieswetter (14) fell to a smart slip catch by Mullaney off Franks bowling from the Radcliffe Road End; 276 for four.

Four overs in the afternoon session the new ball was taken and in its third over Hildreth (161) was caught behind by Read off Fletcher. Another huge score for Hildreth against the Green and Gold. Two wickets fell in the next over in a mini-collapse, Buttler was leg before for 13 and Gurney picked his second wicket in the over when Meschede hit him straight to Lumb in the gulley; 303 for seven. Trego and Gregory saw off Fletcher and Gurney and young Hutton replaced Fletcher. Unfortunately his bowling was much inferior to his batting and  Gregory in particular tucked in. Gurney  changed ends to the Radcliffe Road and with eighth wicket stand worth 62 runs, Trego was caught in covers by Taylor for 22. Four overs later, Thomas edged Gurney to Wessels at first slip to depart for 2, the left armer picking up his fifth wicket. Franks dismissed Overton for a duck as Read took a regulation catch. Gregory was left stranded on 40 but crucially Somerset had picked their fourth batting point being dismissed for 372. This means Notts must defeat them to obtain sixth place as Somerset are currently above Notts in the table having registered more wins. Gurney was pick of the bowlers with 25-4-81-5 as Franks and Fletcher picked two wicket apiece. Brett Hutton had gone for six an over in his 13 overs.

Mullaney and Wessels added 79 in 13 overs until Wessels (20) was smartly caught at mid-wicket by Gregory off Trego. Mullaney who had reached 50 in just 38 balls chipped Trego to mid off to depart for 59 an innings which contained 12 fours. His move up the top of the order has proved a success. Lumb (20) also showed positive intent until driving Meschede to Thomas at mid on, 114 for three. Kieswetter as he had done against Derbyshire earlier this month strapped off his pads as Trescothick rather than Jos Buttler donned the gloves. He bowled three overs of off spin for 12 runs as Notts closed with a lead of 173 runs on 139 for three with Taylor 23 not out and Patel undefeated on seven. The wicket is easy paced and it seems unlikely that Notts could bowl out the Wurzels on such a dead pitch. However, they have nothing to lose so expect them to set their visitors in excess of six an over some time around lunchtime tomorrow. A dry sunny day is forecast in what should be entertaining end to the 2013 season.

Day 2

Despite a poor second day, Notts’ Division One place now looks almost secure after Derbyshire had a nightmare day at the County Ground. After failing to gain their third bowling point as Warwickshire declared on 391 for nine; Derbyshire ended the day on 44 for five, still needing to win the game to overhaul Notts. A near hopeless position then for Derby; although Chanderpaul remains at the crease.

The less said the better in terms of events at Trent Bridge. Unforecasted rain took out the morning session as play did not commence until 1315.

Notts added just 28 runs in nine overs before being bowled out for 406, but at least they secured maximum batting points. Franks was out to first ball of day leg before to Alfonso Thomas bowling from the Radcliffe Road. Hutton and Fletcher saw Notts to the fifth batting point before Fletcher (12) was caught low down at deep square leg by Compton off Thomas. Harry Gurney lasted four balls until edging to Kieswetter to depart for a duck as Thomas (4 for 103) picked up his third wicket of the day.  Hutton was left unbeaten on 20 and never looked in trouble a promising maiden championship bat.

Fletcher and Gurney bowled well initially, Trescothick (2) was plumb leg before to Gurney. Five overs later Jones (4) edged Fletcher to Read, 11 for two. Compton and Hildreth who had a massive stand in corresponding fixture last year batted circumspectly as Somerset went to tea on 72 for 2. Derbyshire went to the break at 14 for four. As a result Notts seemed to emerge from tea de-mob happy and proceeded to bowl 15 overs of dross as 111 runs were added. Patel offered some element of containment the rest of the bowling composed of juicy leg stump half volleys or over pitched deliveries as Hildreth raced to a run a ball ton as he took full advantage of the short Bridgford Road boundary. The floodlights were finally switched off momentarily after tea as the sun made a brief appearance. However the mist returned and the players were taken off with the lights from the floodlights shining brightly from the players bats shortly after 1700. Somerset closed still 223 runs behind on 183 for two off 43 overs with Hildreth 102* and Compton 62*. Barring a miracle Notts will take their place in Division One in 2014, but Mick Newell has a long winter to try and sort out the Championship team. Many problems need to be solved!

Tons from Hussey and Lumb give Notts the edge

After shaky start this was a good day for Notts as they sped to 378 for seven against Somerset on a late sunny September day at Trent Bridge.

Brett Hutton made his championship debut as Andre Adams was once again affected by an Achilles problem. Somerset won the toss and inserted Notts on what looked like flat deck pitched on the Bridgford Road side of the square.

The visitors had a depleted attack with Chawla having left and Mr Angry also absent. The ball was jagging about during the opening session as batting proved initially difficult. Wessels clearly could not handle Overton’s pace it was no surprise when he edged the youngster behind as he departed for seven, 18 for one. Gregory opening up from the Radcliffe Road had problems with his line and length early doors but settled down and got two balls to move in as Mullaney (17) and Taylor (0) were both guilty of not using their bats. First Mullaney was bowled and then Taylor in a barren patch of late departed leg before, 42 for three. Mr Extras was at this stage keeping Notts afloat. Alfonso Thomas replaced Gregory and bowled the spell of the day bowling Samit Patel with a corker as the Lord’s man of the match made 16, 76 for four. Hussey survived a confident leg before appeal when he was on 0 and was then hit on the hand by a beamer from Jamie Overton with the bowler receiving a warning from umpire Llong. Slowly though Lumb and Hussey rebuilt the innings both batting extremely well and determinedly as batting slowly got easier. Hussey was the more fluent of the batters with the cut shot featuring prominently but was dropped at slip by Hildreth when on 58. Both batsman played and missed on occasions but they both played some splendid shots as the large crowd showed their appreciation

Overton switched to the Radcliffe Road but after a succession of short balls he was removed from the attack by the umpires and will not be able to bowl for the reminder of the innings. With Trego looking half fit and with no spinning option, Somerset’s bowling options were now limited. Lumb and Hussey made hay as the Australian in his last game for Notts reached a memorable ton off 144 balls as the crowd gave him much deserved standing ovation. He was dropped on 118 by Kieswetter but the keeper made amends shortly later by catching him off Meschede for 125. The innings came off 172 balls with 20 fours; an outstanding effort. Lumb and Hussey had added 214 runs in 55 overs. Lumb much more reserved got to his ton off 239 balls and then hit the sole six of the day, but then departed leg before to Lewis Gregory shortly after the new ball was taken for a 243-ball 107; 341 for six.

The captain after his 53 at Lord’s enjoyed himself with an hours batting at the crease before edging a wide one from Meschede departing for a 56-ball 39, 372 for seven. Somerset’s over rate was not impressive and with the sun now setting over the TBI the floodlights were now on. Championship debutant Hutton got off the mark with a four through the covers as the Farnsfield duo saw Notts safely to the close on 378 for seven with Franks 15 not out and Hutton on six not out. The day though belonged to Lumb and Hussey who had both batted superbly; Somerset had failed to apply the final incision in helpful bowling conditions before lunch.

Meanwhile at Derby undefeated century from Chris Woakes saw the Bears to 285 for eight at the close. With three days of the season, there is still much to play for. A 10-point draw for Notts though would see them safe irrespective of what happens 15 miles down the road.