v Kent Spitfires RLODC at Trent Bridge

Raining Champions

Notts and Kent shared the points in the latest Pelican fixture as a heavy storm at 1930 ensured no more play was possible on the day.

Notts rested Harry Gurney and with Hales and Taylor on Lions duty in came Kelsall and Wood. Notts skipper Chris Read won the toss and with rain clearly forecast it seemed somewhat bizarre that he elected to bat. The logic behind the decision was it was a used wicket that was expected to deteriorate.

Dark clouds hovered around Nottingham most of the day but the rain did not finally arrive in earnest until five minutes before the scheduled start at 1400. Seventy five minutes were lost and play finally got going at 1515 as a 43 over match.

 Sam Kelsall (5) on his competitive List A debut did not last long playing a poor waft off Mitch Claydon’s bowling from the Radcliffe Road to be caught by keeper Billings, 14 for one in the fourth. Notts failed to capitalise in the reduced initial power play of nine overs when they stood on 41 for one.  

Mullaney, who came-in at three, put the foot on accelerator; the 50 partnership came up in 10 overs. Lumb (37) still not getting going in 2014 played Darren Stevens straight to Tredwell at extra cover, 70 for two and next ball another shower arrived. 

Another 40 minutes were lost and when played resumed at 1700 it was now a 38 over contest. Mullaney was riding his luck somewhat, twice being dropped, but he was giving Notts valuable impetus. He eventually departed to a catch at long on by Darren Stevens off the frugal Claydon. Mullaney’s 62 came off 60 balls with six fours, one short of his limited overs best recorded a week earlier in the come from back from the dead victory in Cardiff. Mullaney and Patel had added 67 in 12 overs. Patel was subdued and only hit a single boundary in his 45-ball 33 when he was caught  at point off Harmison, 146 for four in the 31^st. Wessels hit the first six of the day and Notts scored 27 runs off the two over batting power play. Doug the Rug was hit for two fours and then a six by Wessels but the Aussie got his revenge by bowling Wessels for an 18-ball 29. Franklin carried on the attacking role by also hitting two sixes as Kent’s champagne man had gone flat, Bollinger’s eight overs costing 69 runs. Franklin finally edged Bollinger to Billings having made 30 off 20 balls. Sam Wood (1) was then caught at long on as skipper Read finished on 18 as Notts closed on 228 for seven off their 38 overs, seemingly slightly under par. Although the dank conditions did not help matters. Claydon finished with 8-1-37-3

There was a 30 minute break between the innings and with the clouds were getting darker and darker over County Hall it was obvious the end was nigh. Vera dictated that Kent needed 232 to win.

Bell-Drummond fell off the fifth ball of the reply edging Ball to Read to depart for a duck. Harmison and skipper Northeast attacked the bowling with the latter putting Fletcher off his compass somewhat as The Big Man went for 17 off his two overs. Northeast survived an easy catch at second slip Patel dropping the chance off Ball. Kent were ahead of the Duck Egg but Number One replaced the Metronome from the Pavilion End as Northeast (21) mistimed a pull shot as Shahzad took the catch off his own bowling under Northeast’s nose as Vera’s swing-o-meter now put Notts ahead . Three balls later the heavens opened at 1932 with Kent 48 for two off eight overs, two overs short of the minimum ten to get a result. The game was called off an hour later as both teams appeared to be happy with taking a point each. Notts now have six points from four games. The weather forecasters are telling us that Hurricane Bertha will arrive tomorrow taking the Surrey game out with it.....only time will tell. MAG