v Warwickshire Bears NWT20 Blast at Trent Bridge

Bears Streak to victory as Outlaws disappoint again

Notts miserable Twenty/20 campaign continued with a comprehensive 18-run defeat against Warwickshire in front of 7795 on a mild night at TB.

Notts were unchanged following their mixed performance at Derby, as Warwick won the toss and batted. Will Porterfield (6) fell to a catch at mid-wicket by Patel off Gurney, 13 for one. Webb (14) hit three fours in a 9-ball cameo until falling to a fine reflex catch by Taylor at point off Shahzad, 35 for two. Taylor took another catch this time at extra cover as Chopra was out to Patel’s first ball, 43 for three. Ambrose and Shoaib Malik added 29 runs, before Ambrose (13) was caught at deep mid-wicket by Hales as Patel picked up in his second wicket. In Patel’s last over and with Malik on 29, Wessels took a stunning catch at long off, Bears 89 for five with only six overs left. As happened at Derby the previous week, Notts leaked runs in the final six overs of the innings, young Sam Wood was mysteriously given two overs which went for 27, including 20 off his second. Warwickshire instead of getting 140  had reached 156 for five with man of the match Laurie Evans not out 45 and Ateeq Javid 26 not out. Patel was the pick of the bowlers with 4-0-26-3.

Notts got off to a rapid start, Rankin went for 20 off his opening over including two sixes off successive balls by Hales. With score 57 without loss in the sixth over, Notts looked to heading for a comfortable victory, however the wheels came off. Hales was beaten in the flight by Malik and departed for a 16-ball 30. Two balls later Lumb was leg before to same bowler for 24. On the same pitch as used for the Durham game Notts got completely bogged down against the slow men for third time this season. Patel allowed too many dot balls and then departed to a catch at backward point for a 10-ball five. Wessels and Taylor added 29 but the partnership took up five overs as the boundaries dried up.

There was a brief stoppage, as three streakers appeared from  the William Clarke and ran unchallenged across the turf. Notts bum night continued as Wessels skied the returning Rankin to mid-wicket, his 15 came off 17 balls. Eight balls later, Read (2) edged Wright to Tiny Tim, 104 for five. Mullaney’s confidence appears to have taken a dent having been dropped from the championship side; he fell to catch at mid off when on four, Gordon the bowler. The captain’s crawl of an innings finally ended on 28 (off 32 balls) as he was bowled by Gordon, 113 for seven. Two more streakers appeared from the Clarke (surely a ground record!) as the Notts innings ended limply on 138 for seven, Rankin’s last three overs had only gone for 10, and three spinners had combined figures of 9-0-50-3. Newell’s decision to go for an overseas bowler has come at a cost in terms of the baseball line up, Notts are clearly missing the overseas batsman in the mid order. Changes must be made, young Wood looks out of his depth compounded with Newell’s reluctance to play Adams and  with Jaques shortly departing, it appears that the DofC will be forced to look from outside the club for any replacement. The problems probably run a bit deeper than this, two outstanding catches were taken last night, but some of the ground fielding was poor as certain players have got the act of diving of the ball to a fine art, Lumb also continues to look slightly out of the colour, but I think a big score is just around the corner.

Based on the opening five matches, Notts are performing like also rans in this competition.  MAG   

Alex Hales was given out bowled from this delivery
despite the ball being clear of the bails

you decide how the bails were dislodged

Luke Fletcher injury

The Bulwell Bomber missed most of the bowling at Headingley after suffering with back spasms, Luke's conditioned had only worsened after a 6 hour car journey from Hove earlier in the month.

Fletcher's absence can only serve to give an opportunity to another second eleven player  waiting in the wings if Mick Newell persists with his rotation policy; Ajmal Shahzad being the only player to play (as a bowler) in both T20 and LV games  through design.

Fletch had provided cover for Harry Gurney when he was on England duty, however so plans can change.