v Sussex LV Championship at Trent Bridge

Season ends with an abject display and in inevitable defeat.

Notts saved the worst to last with a quite abject showing on the final day of the season under cloudless skies at Trent Bridge.

 

Once again apart from the lionhearted Luke Fletcher the bowling was dreadful this morning and the body language in the field suggested the players minds were elsewhere. Sussex added 162 runs in just 24.3 overs. Luke Wright after hitting the woeful Gurney for six into the Fox Road stand perished in the next over driving birthday boy Fletcher straight to Keedy at mid on.

 

Ed Joyce was joined by Luke Wells the latter not noted for fast scoring. Sixty runs were added in 11 overs before Joyce swept the expensive Keedy to deep mid-wicket where Jake Libby took a well judged catch. Joyce out for 149 off 159 balls with 17 fours and three sixes. He must wish he played against Notts every week. Wells blasted 79 in 62 balls before hitting Patel to Fletcher on the boundary ropes in front of the Randall Stand. Ben Brown chipped in with 38 in 31 balls as Sussex declared on 406 for six. Fletcher had three for 66 the rest of the bowling figures was x-rated and not suitable for public viewing.

 

Notts needed 385 off 70 overs and clearly were out of the match in terms of winning it. Could they survive?

 

Unfortunately Sussex clearly had much more stomach for a fight as Notts rolled over and died on the placid pitch.

 

Magoffin had Fletcher’s accuracy but more pace and this proved crucial as Hales (6) edged the Australian to Jordan at slip. Sussex had spotted that Libby had a weakness on the leg side and posted two short legs. Sure enough Libby (12) provided Nash with a chance which he took one-handed, Magoffin again the bowler, 36 for two.

 

Seven overs later Lumb fell to Zaidi’s second ball as Jordan took a fine catch at slip at the second attempt. Lumb ended a poor season with 23, 62 for three.

 

Taylor and Wessels added some solidity but after adding 69 in 21 overs the ball of the innings saw the end of Wessels (37); an express Yorker from Jordan demolishing his stumps. Four overs later and Taylor (46) played a quite dreadful shot to be caught behind down the leg side, Jordan again the bowler.

 

Eight overs later Patel who lasted 40 balls wafted outside off stump off the returning Magoffin and left for seven caught by Jordan at slip. Next over, Read (20) lost his off stump to Zaidi. We were now down to the long tail which was gobbled up in double quick time; Fletcher (8) was palpably leg before to Magoffin who picked up his eighth wicket of the match. Luke Wood (12) was leg before to Zaidi and the season closed at 1715 as Gurney was yorked for 6 by Jordan who bowled much better today. Notts 193 all out with 57 balls unused. Sussex had triumphed by 191 runs. Magoffin had taken four wickets and Jordan and Zaidi three a piece. Sussex bowling effort being streets ahead of Notts efforts.

 

The turning point had been Patel’s futile attempt to gain the fifth batting point yesterday, a chance of a sizable lead had been squandered and Notts never regained the initiative. The semi-final defeat in Durham seemed to knock the stuffing out of Notts and this combined with the losses of Jaques, Siddle and Adams meant the season tailed off alarmingly in the final weeks of the campaign. A trend which has been all too common during Mick Newell’s 12 year reign.

 

The season overall could be termed slightly exceeding expectation. Six championship wins compared to two last year was a distinct improvement and Notts white ball cricket was good except on the big occasion. Some excuse could be given for the Durham defeat due to absence of Hales and Gurney. The Twenty/20 performance against Hampshire was marred by poor bowling under pressure.

 

My vote for player of the season would be Riki Wessels with honourable mentions for Fletcher and Hales. Patel had a fine start to the season but never recovered from Moeen Ali’s selection to the England team which seemed to adversely affect his performances. Taylor was brilliant in 50 over cricket but his championship form at times was slightly disappointing. Too many low scores were gathered by a player with unbelievable determination and self motivation. He will make a fine captain for Notts in the years to come.

 

Andre Adams will be solely missed his efforts over the last eight seasons have been nothing short of magnificent. MAG

 

Notts take lead of only 22 runs before Joyce ton gives Sussex massive advantage (Day 3)

Yet another hundred for Ed Joyce against the Green and Gold put the visitors in a commanding position with a lead of 222 runs with seven wickets intact as the season heads into the final day.

Play got under way with the floodlights on, but despite this the light was hardly playable in the misty September sky. Overnight pair of Wessels and Taylor had only added three runs to the overnight score when in the third over of the morning, Wessels (15) was adjudged leg before to Jordan, the ball appeared to be going over the stumps. Taylor and Patel added 44 runs in 11 overs in the gloom, before Taylor edged the impressive Magoffin to Ben Brown. Taylor’s 126 occupied 189 balls with 16 fours; his sole championship ton of the season. He left to a deserved ovation.

Notts needed a further 43 from the remaining 10 overs to obtain the last batting point, but the required rate was creeping up. Patel went “over the top” in a futile attempt to get the point, he was dropped three times in successive balls off Lewis Hatchett, Joyce at slip, Ben Brown and lead juggler Ed Joyce this time at point, put down the three easy chances. Not to be perturbed Patel (41) wandered down the pitch in the next over from Zaidi and was stumped by a country mile, Notts 392 for six with four balls left to get the eight runs. Notts failed to get there and not only did Patel’s dismissal give the visitors a precious point but ensured that any lead that Notts would get would be marginal. Chris Read then edged a ball from Hatchett onto his stumps when on 15, Notts 398 for seven.

Notts subsided after lunch as the sun finally broke through. First Fletcher (4) was plumb leg before to Magoffin and then Hatchett bowled Gurney for 10 and Keedy (0) chipped the left armer straight into arms off Cachopa at mid on. Hatchett finishing with 4 for 99 and Magoffin had fine figures of 34-8-72-4 on the featherbed. Notts 413 all out with Wood five not out debut a lead of 22.

Sussex now had far easier batting conditions and made hay against an attack which Fletcher apart failed to exhibit control of length. Yardy hopelessly out of form edged Gurney to Hales at slip but the chance was put down. Soon after Yardy (6) who like Taylor does not stay still at the crease edged Fletcher to Patel at slip, Sussex 10 for one. Chris Nash and Ed Joyce who always relish facing the Notts attack added 152 in 25 overs as the ball sped to all points of the compass against the mediocre fare.

After tea the light started to fail again and the floodlights was once again at full throttle. Fletcher returned and was a lone beacon for Notts, as he got a ball to pop up as Nash edged to Read. Nash gone for 96-ball 85 an innings which included 12 fours. Nash had scored 263 runs in the match.

The umpires had quite few confabs as the light was getting clearly unplayable but Joyce tucked into the easy pickings and reached his ton off 105 balls. Luke Wood bowled Cachopa for 29, 224 for three. With 13.3 overs to be bowled the umpires finally took the players off with Sussex 244 for three scored at 5.36 RPO with Joyce unbeaten on a run a ball 115 and Luke Wright on one. The stoppage had done Notts a huge favour as the draw now the most likely result.

Expect Sussex to bat on this morning to take Notts out of the game. With their remaining game against hapless Northants, a draw here would ensure Sussex have an excellent chance of overhauling Notts in the table. The home side in second place for so long could finish as low as sixth, as their September form has been found wanting for the umpteenth year. MAG

Libby Ton on Debut (Day 2)

A superb maiden championship century on his debut made it a day to remember for 21-year Cornish right-hander Jake Libby.

Sussex added 33 runs to their overnight score before Zaidi was bowled by Gurney for 37. Gurney having replaced fellow left-hander Luke Wood from the Radcliffe Road End.

Hales was put down by Ed Joyce at slip off Jordan when five and Libby on 25 was also put down by Joyce this time in the gulley when on 25; Magoffin the unlucky bowler. Both drops proved costly as Hales advanced to 57 before losing his off stump to Magoffin, 97 for one. Hales had hit 12 fours in a typical aggressive effort. Lumb followed in Magoffin’s next over thin edging to Brown for a 6-ball duck.

Libby who played his cricket at Callington in East Cornwall was actually born in Plymouth and had previously played two games for Cardiff MCCU. He joined the Notts Academy at the beginning of July. Small and compact he displayed excellent composure and reached his 50 in 119 balls. Taylor was ideal foil for him as they added 181 for the 3^rd wicket. Libby played shots all round the wicket and finally reached his hundred off Chris Nash with a shot down to third man. The crowd gave the youngster a much deserved standing ovation. He became the first player since James Taylor in 2012 (versus Loughborough MCCU) to score a ton on his Notts debut. The last one to do so in a championship fixture was Steven Mullaney at the Rose Bowl in 2010. He had scored 65 earlier this year in a first class game at Bristol.  

Libby eventually played onto Hatchett for a 262 ball 108 with 16 fours. He appears to be a real find and has been given a two year contract by Notts. Taylor also got to a ton his first for Notts this season in first class cricket. He was still there at close with 101 off 151 balls with 12 fours and with him was Riki Wessels on 15. Notts on 310 for three, still trailing Sussex by 81 runs.

The wicket remains flat so Notts will be looking for a substantial lead and then must hope the wicket may turn for veteran Gary Keedy. Magoffin was best bowler on show with 21-5-41-2. Jordan was a disappointment; not looking anything like the bowler who has bowled so well against Notts in the past.

Very much Notts’ day as Libby had a debut to remember and Notts have appeared to finally blow away their September blues. MAG

Nash smashes century before Fletcher leads a fightback on Day 1

Sussex ended day 1 of this final fixture in a commanding position having closed on 358 for nine after having won the toss and elected to bat.

Notts gave debuts to 21 year old Jake Libby and 19-year old left arm seamer Luke Wood, Jake Ball and Steven Mullaney having been dropped following the Yorkshire thrashing.

In the sixth over of the innings a good ball from Gurney that moved away accounted for Luke Wells for 10 as he edged to Chris Read. Luke Wood making a belated debut bowled well at first change from the Radcliffe Road End but Ed Joyce survived despite playing and missing on numerous occasions.

In the second over after lunch and with both Lukes bowling in tandem, Ed Joyce edged Fletcher to Wessels at first slip with 31 to his name. Nash as ever was enjoying himself batting at Trent Bridge on a flattish deck and added 133 runs for the third wicket with the Portuguese passport holding South African born Kiwi Craig Cachopa. Notts heads were visibly dropping as Sussex piled up the runs in mid-afternoon sunshine.

Just before tea Gary Keedy bowling from the Radcliffe Road took two wickets in an over to give Notts a glimmer of hope. First of all Cachopa (48) edged to slip where Hales took the catch. Five balls later Luke Wright having hit the previous ball for four was leg before missing a sweep, 256 for four. Three overs later the deserving Luke Wood with the first ball after tea had Yardy guiding the ball to Lumb in the gully for a duck, his maiden first class wicket, 257 for five. Cue exuberant celebrations.

Forty runs and eleven overs later, Chris Nash six short of a first class best was leg before to Keedy for 178 off 235 balls with a massive 32 fours. His third championship ton on the ground. A fine effort.

Notts took the new ball five overs later and Fletcher bowled an excellent spell. Having reached a scratchy 25 Chris Jordan edged Fletcher to Read, 338 for seven. Fifteen runs later the juggling Patel eventually held an edge from Ben Brown as Fletcher picked up his third wicket. In the 94^th over, Magoffin edged a ball from Wood as Read picked up his third catch of the innings as Sussex closed on 358 for nine. Fletcher was the pick of the bowlers with 20-9-49-3 and debutant Luke Wood deserved better figures than 21-4-76-2 troubling the top order with skiddy accurate deliveries and he looks a fine prospect. Gurney mixed good deliveries with bad and Keedy was somewhat expensive picking three wickets for 96 off 21 overs. Patel meanwhile bowled 15 ineffectual overs for 56 runs and no wickets.

The wicket appears to be playing well but it will be interesting to see how Notts cope with scoreboard pressure after a traumatic fortnight and with young Libby down to open.MAG