v Durham Jets NWT20 Blast at Trent Bridge

TURGID TIMES FOR OUTLAWS

A bad week for Notts ended with a 3 run defeat against an under strength Durham team in front of 7,000 plus crowd.

On another bleak but dry night James Taylor won the toss and an inserted the opponents. After such a wet week it was hardly surprising that the pitch was damp and the ball never came onto the bat all night.

Notts named an unchanged team. Stoneman and Mustard opened for Durham. Fletch’s first over went for eight and then Shahzad bowled a rare maiden which contained one leg bye. Carter replaced Shahzad at the Pavilion End and Stoneman (16) hit him straight to Mullaney at mid on. Scottish international Calum MacLeod (13) hit three fours to up the scoring tempo, but Carter picked his second wicket as McLeod hit him straight Lumb at mid on, 48 for two in the sixth. The pitch was turgid, Mullaney who bowled a frugal spell and had Collingwood fooled by his even slower ball as he dabbed it straight back into his hands. Mustard (27) normally so keen to get on with it, was only a scoring at a run a ball, he defiantly hit Mullaney into The Fridge however he perished trying to repeat the shot Lumb taking the catch. Durham’s innings was grinding to a halt; big hitting Ben Stokes was Mull’s next victim holing out to Hales in the deep. Next ball Pringle made a crisp exit falling leg before to Mullaney, 76 for six in the twelfth, the game should have been in the bag. Muchall fresh from his 158 earlier this week though batted sensibly and added 17 with Arshad who was cleaned by a Yorker from the Lincolnshire Poacher. Breese hit the Bulwell Metronome to midwicket where Lumb took a tumbling catch 108 for eight. Wood (9*) and Muchall (41*) added a valuable 24 unbroken runs for the ninth wicket as Durham closed on 132 for eight. The same score they achieved the previous night in their 1-run defeat up at the Riverside against Lancashire. Mullaney (4-0-25-4) was the pick of the bowlers and Carter picked up 3-31 but crucially gave away three wides and a no ball.

It was obvious with such a big hitting opposition failing to break the shackles that Notts were facing a none too easy task. Lumb (hopelessly out of form) and Hales (lacking match practice) were not at the races and added a paltry nine in three overs when Hales lost his middle peg to Rushworth. Taylor hit a four but then was caught at square leg as Rushworth picked up his second wicket. The runs had now all but dried up Lumb (9)  finally reached the ropes but next ball he pulled Mark Wood into the safe hands of McLeod in front of The Fridge, 24 for three in the sixth. Patel and Wessels added 27 in five overs, but Breese got the key wicket as Patel (18) was caught at mid-wicket, 51 for four in the 11^th over. Some elements of the crowd with an attention of spell of a bowl of goldfish started the wretched Mexican wave as boundaries were a rare commodity. The crowd woke from their slumbers as Chris Read took Breese for 15 off the next over including two sixes, but Notts were still well behind the D/L par score. However the shackles were still not broken as he edged the returning the Arshad bowling from the Radcliffe Road had Read (23) caught behind, 81 for five in the 15^th. Wessels was joined by Mullaney. Thirteen runs came from over 17 as Mullaney took a liking to Arshad. Stokes was next up bowling his only over of the night as he removed Wessels middle stump who departed for a run a ball 26. Sam Wood then surprised everyone when he hit Arshad for six over long on. Nine now required off the last over. Mullaney hit the first two balls from Rushworth for two. Notts now needed five from four balls as for the first time they were favourites. Mullaney lost his composure as successive mighty swipes only succeeded in hitting thin air. A single off ball five saw left Wood (11) needing a four of the last ball. He tried his best but found Ben Stokes at long on as Notts closed on 129 for seven. Mullaney 26 not out to go along with his four wickets was a deserved man of the match. Rushworth finished with three for 19.

For the second successive week Notts had lost on a slow surface as the baseball campaign is coming off the rails.

It is clear that Notts need to get Lumb and Hales back firing at the top order. The return of Gurney will also strength the team but it is apparent that Notts are missing an overseas batsman in the middle order. Will the DofC rush to his cheque book or maybe he could introduce the highly remunerated Jaques into the line up. Either way, something better change!  MAG

With the wheels hanging off the bandwagon of the Outlaws' Blast campaign, change is urgently needed as the paying public will soon get bored with doing Mexican waves to keep entertained and/or keep warm.  An injection of new blood is necessary but at the expense of who?

Alex Hales needs to play at Hove to get some time in the middle whilst Michael Lumb just needs that elusive bit of luck to turn the corner and for form to kick-in.  Samit is generally in good nick and Titch also needs one extended innings because his timing of the ball looks pretty good. DDG