v Lancashire LV Championship at Trent Bridge

Day 4

Winning start to 2014

After a thrilling four days cricket Notts beat Lancashire by 45 runs to get their 2014 championship season off to a winning start.

With such an inexperienced bowling line up Notts can be well pleased with this victory which was set up after their over-par 272 runs batting first up.

Notts had frustrating opening hour and a quarter, night-watchman Kerrigan was dropped by Lumb in the gulley while on five, Harry Gurney being the unlucky bowler. In the 30^th over, Horton edged Ball into captains gloves to depart for an 88-ball 41, 76 for two. Patel came on at the Radcliffe Road end and removed Andrea Agathangelou (4) taken at first slip by Wessels. In his next over, Patel got a leg before decision against night watchman Kerrigan who had made 33. The very fact that Kerrigan had hung around for 84 balls underlined the fact that the pitch was considerably flatter than earlier the match. Ninety for four became 97 for five as Luke Procter was dismissed for a duck, becoming the second victim of the Ball-Read combo.

Davies (13) played a cavalier cameo and departed ten minutes after lunch caught behind off Gurney to a ball that got up more than expected, 112 for six. An early win was then on the cards. Prince and Smith had other ideas. The former Notts man survived a chance to Jake Ball at mid off early in his innings but batting became much easier in the afternoon sunshine. As each over went by the batsman looked more solid, Read rotated his bowling options to no avail. The scoring rate increased as some of the Notts fielding was somewhat arthritic. The new ball was obviously going to prove crucial.

Cometh the hour cometh the man and the Bulwell Bomber did not disappoint. Having warmed up on the boundary edge bouncing the medicine ball. Fletcher took two balls to remove Tom Smith to a catch at first slip by Wessels which led a highly charged celebration by the bowler.

 Smith who had outstanding game departed for 113-ball 76 with 13 fours, a fine effort, Lancashire now 259 for seven.  The two left handers had added 147 runs in 40 overs, to set up an exciting finish.

Four overs later Wayne White was leg before to Fletcher for four, 265 for eight. Kabir Ali played a gormless shot straight to Hales at square leg as Gurney picked up his third wicket, 278 for nine. Fletch limped off as Carter bowling at half pace now replaced him. Anderson hit three fours and Prince then got a to thoroughly deserved ton in 176 balls. With 46 needed with 11 overs left, Prince was bowled leg stump by Gurney for a 181-ball 100 with 12 fours and one six. Lancashire 303 all out. Notts had won their first championship game in 11 months as Gurney finished with 21.5-2-81-4 with Fletcher, Ball and Patel all grabbing two.

Notts collected 21 points and now head to Lord’s with Siddle and Taylor expected to both play. This victory was achieved despite missing three key players and with a bowling attack containing a man making his championship debut, another coming back after years lay off and Harry Gurney who is still relatively inexperienced the red ball.  Highlights were the batting efforts of Patel and Hales on day 1 and outstanding innings from Wessels on day 3 together with a workmanlike bowling display on a helpful wicket in the first innings and on a near featherbed on day 4. Well done all. MAG

Nottinghamshire 272 and 220 

Lancashire 144  and 303 Ashwell Prince 100 Harry Gurney 4/81

Notts won by 45 runs

Wessels gives Notts the advantage

Day 3

With Lancashire requiring a further 342 runs with nine wickets intact going into the final day, Notts are favourites to gain their first championship win in 11 months.

Riki Wessels was undoubtedly hero of the day with a superb 90 to put Notts in a commanding position. Despite a spectacular late collapse caused by an extremely long tail a target of 349 runs batting on an easing pitch with erratic bounce should be enough.

Lancashire avoided the follow on in the morning session as combination of a gutsy innings of 42 not out from Tom Smith and a reluctance to bowl star man Fletcher saw Notts eventually gain a lead of 128.

White (12) edged the impressive Gurney to Patel at third slip.  Smith and Ali added 25 runs of 15 overs of dogged resistance but not before Wessels had spilled a low chance at first slip from Ali off Jake Ball. Carter opened up with three maidens and then demolished Kabir’s stumps to a well pitched up delivery.  Kerrigan hit Cater for 6, but then Fletcher eventually came on from the Radcliffe Road and picked up two wickets with his first deliveries. Both Kerrigan (11) and Anderson (golden duck) edged the Bulwellian to Read behind the stumps, Lancashire 144 all out. Fletcher three for 15 and two wickets Gurney, Ball and Carter. A fine bowling effort from attack minus Siddle and Adams.

Lunch was taken between the innings.

Notts opening partnership of Mullaney (26) and Jaques (30) added 56 for the first wicket in 15 overs. Kabir Ali switch ends to the Radcliffe Road and bowled Mullaney. Four overs later Jaques edged the same bowler and keeper Davies took a tumbling catch, 71 for two. Patel lasted five balls until falling in an identical way for a duck, Notts 71 for three. Wessels though was in fine form and added 117 runs with Michael Lumb in 29 overs in a fine partnership. Lancashire bowlers were dropping too short too often as it has been clear throughout the match that wickets were generally falling to well pitched deliveries. A ball from left armer Luis Reece was deflected on to the helmet by keeper Davies as five penalty runs were added to the total. Wessels was hitting the ball straight and was playing the innings of the match as he put a poor 2013 behind him. With the score on 188 for three, Notts then managed to lose their last seven wickets for 32 runs in 12 overs of madness. Smith bowling from the Pavilion End picked up a nap hand. Firstly Lumb (38) edged a nothing ball from Liverpudlian as Davies took his third catch of the innings. Hales then shouldered arms to his fourth ball from Smith and departed for duck. Wessels was then badly dropped by Kabir at mid on off the disbelieving Anderson.

Anderson got his revenge though bowling Wessels for 90 off 109 balls with 10 fours and two sixes. Wessels left to a standing ovation from the good sized crowd on a sunny but windy day at the Bridge. The tail was never going last long Fletcher edged his third delivery to Davies as Smith got another wicket. Ball then departed for a golden duck with his stumps a kimbo. Carter lasted three balls before being castled by Anderson. Gurney somehow managed to last five overs with his captain who hit a defiant 23 not out including one six into The Fridge. Gurney became the fifth duck of the innings as he departed leg before to Smith as Notts were all out for 220 with Smith finishing with five for 53 runs.

Lancashire had nine overs batting. Reece was batting dangerously against the brisk Gurney bowling from the Pavilion End, three attempted pulls nearly saw the end of him but he edged onto his stumps on his fourth attempt as he departed for six bowled by left armer Gurney. Lancashire seven for one. As the crowd headed across the road to see the football the feeling was Notts should have too much on an early season pitch still giving some help to the bowlers and the high number of batsman being bowled throughout the match tells its own story.

Nottinghamshire 272 and 220 Tom Smith 5/53 Riki Wessels 90

Lancashire 144  Smith 42* and 7/1 needing 342 more



Day 2

Red Rose "plucked" (?)

After morning rain play finally got going at 1400 hours at TB today. Once again the floodlights remained on throughout the play.

Andy Carter got two singles, before Harry Gurney was bowled off stump by Kabir Ali for a duck with Carter 11 not out. Notts all out 272 with Anderson finishing five for 55.

The Bulwell Metronome (Radcliffe Road) and Harry Gurney (Pavilion) opened up. In the fifth over Fletcher got one to move back in to visiting skipper Horton who departed leg before for a duck. Next over former Unicorn Luis Reece (1) fell to a diving catch to his left by Chris Read off Gurney, four for two. Agathangelou despite an uncertain start added 29 runs with Prince but then was yorked by a well pitch ball from Carter on his off stump for 17, 33 for three. Jake Ball then picked his maiden championship wicket as former Notts left hander Ashwell Prince edged him to Read to depart for 16, 47 for four. Luke Procter fell to a three card trick from Jake Ball. A massive legside wide which cost Notts five runs was then follow by wayward off stump delivery which Procter dispatched for four, next ball a perfect straight one had him removed to plumb leg before decision for 18. Prince Harry look alike Davies fell to Mullaney’s third delivery losing his off stump, 69 for six. Mullaney then went for two successive fours. With dark clouds looming over County Hall the umpires took the players off four balls before tea with Lancashire 77 for six. A torrential shower followed that flooded the square and play was abandoned 30 minutes later. Smith (0*) and White (8*) are the batsman at the crease as Notts as will be looking for a lead of 100 plus. An excellent day for Notts in helpful bowling conditions. The value of Patel and Hales efforts yesterday are beginning to become more and more apparent.

A dry but extremely cool day is promised for tomorrow. MAG

Nottinghamshire  First Innings 272

Lancashire First Innings 77/6 at stumps 







Day 1

Hales and Patel star but Anderson shines

The 2014 championship season got off a more than satisfactory start as Notts having lost a crucial toss on a dank day recovered from 20 for 3 to 270 for 9 as stumps were drawn 58 balls early due to bad light.

With Peter Siddle arriving later this week, Notts bowling attack was further weakened with Andre Adams having a calf injury. James Taylor and Ajmal Shahzad were also on the injured list, as Notts handed championship debuts to Jake Ball and Phil Jaques. With Andy Carter returning for the first time in 11 months, Notts had a long tail.

Lancashire were also weakened with injuries to Hogg and Chapple and Jos Buttler being unavailable for selection.

The floodlights remained on all day as Anderson, on his favourite ground, opened from the Radcliffe Road end. It was a struggle for Mullaney and Jacques. Mullaney was yorked by Kabir Ali in the 6^th over as he departed for three, 13 for one. He had earlier been dropped by Wayne White at point off the former Worcester and Hampshire bowler. Left hander Jacques (10) having hit a couple of boundaries fell to slip catch by Horton off Anderson, 17 for two. In his next over Anderson had Lumb bowled off an inside edge, 20 for three.

Patel and Wessels battoned down the hatches and did well to survive. With Anderson taking a rest the support bowling was less taxing as Notts reached lunch on 70 for three. Honours even in session one.

Wessels pulled Ali for six in front of the new scoreboard and then hit the returning Anderson for 4. Patel meanwhile batting very responsibility was scoring mainly from flicks down the legside. Wessels was bowled neck and crop by well pitched up ball from Anderson for a patient 39 off 75 balls, Notts 105 for four. Hales batting at six joined Patel and with the two normal free scoring batsmen reining in their normal attacking instincts 95 runs were added in 30 overs. Patel increased his scoring tempo including a six over long leg off White. Notts went to tea 197 for 4 with Patel on 91 not out. Notts now in the ascendancy.

Wayne White got two wickets on the resumption. Firstly Patel as so often was out fencing a leg side delivery to the keeper. His 93 was a fine effort with 12 fours and a six and he deserved a century. Read appeared to miss a fairly innocuous delivery and was bowled for 10, 215 for six.  Fletcher batting at eight joined his big mate Hales as play was suspended for 10 minutes due to bad light as Notts stood on 243 for six with the new ball due in five balls.

Anderson took the new ball straight away as Fletcher (14) lasted five balls before edging to keeper Davies. Hales hit Anderson for four to bring up the 250 but then edged the England bowler to Horton at first slip. Hales gone for 61 off 130 balls with 11 fours. Jake Ball was then bowled by Kabir Ali for 10, 260 for nine. Andy Carter hit Anderson for two fours and when Burnley native dug in a ball that whistled past Carter’s nose umpires Mallender and Gale took the players off for the light once again with Notts 270 for nine. Anderson had bowled superbly with five for 54, but the support bowling although tidy lacked venom on a wicket where batting became easier once the ball had lost its shine. Hales’ 61 was his highest championship score since 2012, but the innings of the day belonged to Samit Patel. On a dull and increasingly windy day about 1,000 hardy souls turned up more in hope than expectation as the forecast suggested heavy afternoon rain which mercifully never arrived. Unfortunately rain is forecast for most of tomorrow, although the weather is expected to much better on the last two days. MAG