Heroic Notts gallop to unexpected win
Lightning does strike twice! After their amazing last day victory against Northants last month, Notts pulled off another extremely unlikely victory against much stronger opponents in Middlesex. Successfully chasing 385 runs their third highest in their history, Notts triumphed with 67 balls unused to canter home by six wickets.
All went to script this morning Middlesex batted for 7.3 overs as they lost four wickets as 51 runs were added. Gurney and Fletcher bowled unchanged. Roland-Jones slipped a thick top edge that balloon for Read to take off Fletcher,as he departed for 16. Next over Gurney bowled Murtagh second ball and then his next over Finn was bowled by the left armer for three. Paul Stirling was left undefeated on 68 not out as Middlesex declared on 271 for nine declared. Gurney finished with figures of four for 76.
Notts required a distant 385 runs off 86 overs and nobody in the ground could sense a home victory. Hales and Jaques decided attack was the best form of defence and went for their shots from the off. Jaques was in fact outscoring his partner. The uneven bounce which was apparent on day 3 had disappeared and hardly a ball misbehaved all day. 65 runs came off the opening 10 overs and Notts went to lunch on 108 for 0 off 18 overs scored at 6 RPO. The perfect platform had been erected. Roland-Jones in particular looked off colour and was removed from the attack after just three overs.
Middlesex had a rethink at lunchtime and with Notts still need another 277 runs after the interval they set much more defensive fields. Ravi Patel’s slow left armers were given an extended run out. The scoring rate slowed slightly and 45 minutes in to the session Jaques found Roland-Jones on the deep midwicket ropes as Patel picked up the wicket. Jaques76 had taken 79 balls with thirteen fours. Notts 150 for one in the 31st over. Lumb batted circumspectly to begin with but added 72 runs in 16 overs with Hales. Hales after being dropped at slip on 86 got to a magnificent 94 before being leg before playing across the line to Patel; his innings lasted 142 balls with ten fours and one six. Just like the Lancashire game in 2010, Hales had made two nineties in the same match. Notts went to tea on 234 for two with 37 overs to bowl. Notts were suddenly eyeing an incredible victory.
Lumb and Taylor eventually added 51 in 12 overs before Lumb was caught behind off Finn for a season high 68. Finn having another bad day with the ball his 16 overs costing 79 runs. Samit Patel lasted just four balls until hitting his namesake Ravi Patel to short extra cover, 284 for four and there was now a slight wobble.
Wessels and Taylor scampered a few runs before Wessels went into his Northants power hitting phase and scored 74 not out off just 48 balls with five fours and five sixes as the visitors heads dropped. Taylor ended up 56 not out as Notts galloped home at 1739 on 387 for four scored at 5.17 RPO. Five of top six had scored half centuries in five hours of breathless cricket. Only the run chases against Worcestershire 461-3 at Worcester (2001) and Leicestershire 419 for 6 at TB (1926) were higher. Notts now sit top of the championship albeit temporarily with the other games still in progress. The run chase was astounding effort. First innings hero Tim Murtagh finished with 17-12-91-0 as Middlesex bowling was smashed to smithereens. All this after Middlesex had ended day 1 on 417 for five......tales of the unexpected.
Somerset are next up in the championship on Sunday, but before then Notts have baseball skirmishes against Leicester and Derby on Thursday and Friday this week. MAG
Fletcher heroics save Notts from following on.
Irishman Murtagh shows 6 appeal
Middlesex are well placed at the end of day 3 of this fascinating fixture as they lead by 333 runs with five second innings wickets intact.
On another dark and dank day, Patel’s fine innings came to an end when he pulled a shot from Roland-Jones to deep square leg to be caught by Finn for 77. It was a quite dreadful shot given the match situation and summed up perfectly why he was playing at Trent Bridge rather than Lord’s. Shortly afterwards the players went off for bad light but they returned 19 minutes later. Wessels and Read batted sensibly and just before another bad light stoppage at 1235 Wessels hit Finn for six over deep square leg. An early lunch was taken as Notts were 323 for five at the interval.
Soon after lunch Read lost his middle stump from the a wicked delivery from Tim Murtagh bowling from the Pavilion End. Read out for 34, 333 for six. Next ball Siddle edged the impressive “Irishman” into Simpson’s gloves to depart for a golden duck. Things got even worse three overs later when an extremely smart catch by Malan at slip saw the end of Wessels innings off ToRoJo. Wessels had batted stoically for over three hours his 71 containing six fours and one six. Notts 345 for eight and in real danger of missing the follow-up target. Adams in his unique style promptly hit the first ball he received from Roland-Jones for a towering six over long on. Another six followed off Murtagh but off his fifth ball he hit the ball into orbit and Simpson completed the catch following re-entry in front of the stumps, the follow-on had been averted. There was still time for more fun as Fletcher hit two towering sixes along with three fours but with the score on 392 he hit the ball over mid-wicket but the ball held in the strong easterly wind and “AC” Malan took the catch in front of the Larwood and Voce as Murtagh picked up sixth wicket for the 93 runs. An fine spell from the much underrated performer. Fletcher as had done up in Leeds had batted well for his 42-ball 40, Notts 113 runs behind. Given the ease of the first innings surface at least one of our batters should have got a ton.
Middlesex had 64 overs to bat and they got off to rapid start as Gurney and Siddle wasted the new ball. With the score on 46 in tenth over Malan was bowled by Gurney for 15. With the heavy roller not being used in the match the wicket was starting to exhibit uneven bounce from both ends although the lack of pace in the pitch remained. Rogers edged Adams to Wessels at slip when on 48 an innings which lasted 42 balls, 78 for two in the 17th over. Middlesex though slowed down after the initial onslaught as the uneven bounce in the pitch was making them bat more circumspectly. Morgan was horrendously dropped on 20 in the first innings and with his score on the same total Siddle bowling much better in his second spell had the Dubliner edging to Read, 109 for three. In his next over, Dexter played on to Adams for 29. Denly was then unluckily run out as a hard drive from John Simpson was deflected on to non striker’s stumps by bowler Gurney, 140 for five. The sun finally made brief appearances late on and Simpson (44*) and rotund Stirling (39*) saw Middlesex safely to stumps in an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 80 off 26 overs. Huge credit should be given to the Bulwell Bomber who bowled 11 overs on the bounce from the Pavilion End for just 22 runs, in a period of the game where Middlesex were expected to put their foot on the accelerator.
Middlesex will probably bat for four to eight overs tomorrow to set Notts a target of 350 plus with two new balls on offer. Notts will have to bat well to stave off defeat against a bowling attack which have bowled better than their Notts counterparts. Notts batting has proved time and again they are more cavalier than round head so an away victory seems the most likely outcome given the increased assistance to the bowlers. Can Lumb finally find MoJo against ToRoJo and Co and upset the odds? We need at least four of our top order to bat out time. MAG
Hales leads Notts' fight-back
Notts fought back well on day 2 and closed 247 runs behind with six wickets still intact as bad light stopped play with two overs to bowl at 1808.
The two Irishmen Morgan and Stirling added 26 runs to overnight total when Siddle got Stirling (31) to edge one to Read who took a good catch diving to his right, 443 for six. Roland-Jones in good form with the bat in 2014 hit four fours in his rapid 18 until being caught at mid wicket by Hales as Fletcher picked his first wicket of the innings. Four overs later, Morgan’s long innings came to an end when he edged a pull shot of Fletcher into Read’s gloves. Morgan’s 191 came off 265 balls with 29 fours and two sixes. Next over, Finn was leg before to Adams who had replaced Siddle from the Pavilion End. Seventeen runs were added for the last wicket before Ravi Patel was caught in the deep by Taylor as Fletcher picked up his third wicket. Middlesex 505 all out with Murtagh unbeaten on 28. Adams and Siddle also picked up three wickets.
Notts had 25 minutes to bat before lunch but lost their first wicket when Jaques was leg before to Murtagh bowling from the Radcliffe Road for just a single. Notts went to lunch on 27 for one with Hales 26 not out.
Hales and Lumb went on the attack after lunch which was extended five minutes due to a light shower. The day was dull and dank and the floodlights remained on for the rest of the day. Hales looked in fine form and 102 runs were added for the second wicket in just 22 overs before Lumb on 47 lost his middle stump to Finn. Lumb is still to score a championship half century this season. James Taylor lasted eight overs before losing his leg stump playing down the wrong line to Dexter. The medium pacer had ripped out the Notts middle order in the corresponding fixture last year. Taylor had made nine. Tea was taken at 1600 with Notts 157 for three.
Hales looked certain to get a deserved ton but the returning Murtagh this time bowling from the Pavilion End had him leg before to a ball appearing to heading down the legside. Hales had made 96 off 110 balls with 16 fours and one six, Notts now wobbling on 164 for four. Patel looked in fine form and after playing himself in he hit Murtagh for three successive fours. The light was getting worse and Middlesex were forced to bowl spinner Patel as well as occasional spinners Denly and Stirling. Notts closed on 258 for four with Patel on 75 and Wessels unbeaten on 26. With two overs remaining Middlesex decided to revert back to their fastmen but umpires Mallender and Hartley would have none of it and took the players off. Hales and Patel had both batted well, but Notts still have a lot to do with the new ball only seven overs away tomorrow morning. However given their position the previous night Notts had had a very satisfying day. Murtagh was the pick of the bowlers with two for 50 off 17 overs. MAG
Nottinghamshire bowlers collectively struggle against Middlesex LHBs
A nightmare day for Notts as Middlesex piled up 417 for five on the opening day of the latest championship fixture at Trent Bridge after being put in.
Harry Gurney replaced Ajmal Shahzad in the Notts line up as he was rewarded his county cup along with Riki Wessels and Luke Fletcher in a ceremony before the start of play. The players lined up for a minutes silence for former Middlesex stalwart coach Don Bennett who died aged 80 last Wednesday.
Play started at noon due to the previous evening Baseball. Dawid Malan was the makeshift opener for Sam Robson and 60 were added in just 14 overs as Siddle and Fletcher had poor opening spells. Andre Adams bowled much better and he bowled Malan through the gate as he departed for 17. Neil Dexter edged Gurney bowling from the Radcliffe Road to Wessels at first slip to depart for an eight ball duck, 61 for two and things were looking up. A brief shower held up proceedings for ten minutes but Middlesex went to lunch at 1400 on 97 for two.
After lunch Eoin Morgan was badly dropped at slip by Wessels at slip as the ball went in his chest but he spilled the catch as he fell backwards, Gurney the unlucky bowler. Chris Rogers was then dropped on 89 by Samit Patel at second slip a harder chance diving to his left. These were costly misses as Rogers and Morgan tore into the Notts bowling which was taken to bits. Notts heads dropped and the fielders went silent as Patel in particular was expensive as his 12 overs went for 81 runs. Rogers got his ton off 131 balls and Morgan got there on 137 balls. The two left handers guided Middlesex to tea on 288 for two and had already added a club record 227 against Notts.
The partnership continued unabated after tea, Chris Rogers on 171 then hit Andre Adams straight to Alex Hales at deep square leg who spilled another easy catch. The bowling had been poor the fielding was even worse. It was becoming a quite dreadful day. Then with third partnership worth 272 off just 55 overs, Rogers hit Adams to the cover boundary where Taylor took the catch low down in front of the Fox Road stand. Rogers had scored 180 runs off 220 balls with 26 fours and left to a standing ovation. The second new ball was taken as Siddle bowled much better as Denly (18) edged him to Patel at second slip, 381 for four. Middlesex who were scoring at 4.8 RPO at one stage, but slowed down as stumps drew nearer as John Simpson (10) was comprehensively bowled as Siddle who picked up his second wicket.
Middlesex got to the close on 417 for five with Morgan on championship best 174 not out off 231 balls with 27 fours and two sixes. Paul Stirling was undefeated on 10. Middlesex are unlikely to collapse like Notts did at Taunton and Hove earlier this season as their tail is stronger, so therefore expect them to bat until lunch tomorrow as Notts will now face self induced scoreboard pressure after putting their opponents in on a lifeless pitch. Adams bowled well before lunch and along with Gurney (22-6-57-1) could be satisfied with his days work. Fletcher looked completely out of sorts and pace with figures of 20-2-98-0; with two easy catches spilled this was not a good day for Notts. The pitch though does not hold any great terrors but Finn, Muztagh and ToRoJo will probably maker better use of it. Notts face a tricky three days. MAG
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