v Middlesex at Lord's LV= 2015 Report

Day 4

Disappointingly Nottinghamshire's bowlers couldn't dismiss the necessary remaining wickets on the flat Lord's deck.

In hindsight, Notts batted on too long and/or gave Middlesex no chance of winning by batting them out of the game. Wickets only fell when batsmen looked to score positively over the last couple of days and Middlesex didn't need to score runs, just occupy the crease.

On the plus side for Notts:

• Jake Ball with the new ball
• Brendan Taylor
• Ready with the bat
• To a lesser extent, Samit's bowling

On the minus side:

• Still didn't manage to blow a tail end away like other teams seem to manage to do to Notts
• Will Gidman bowled 24 overs for no reward and hasn't made a score yet with the bat.
• Vernon Philander failed to do what might have been expected of him on this occasion; which might be a little harsh on such a flat track.

Middlesex scoring 300/7 Notts take 10 points



Day 3 , Tuesday 14^th April 2015. 

 Middlesex v Nottinghamshire, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London

Starting the day on 101 for 2, with an overall lead of 218, the small number of Notts supporters present were looking for a further 200 by tea time followed by a declaration and then giving the seamers a blast at the Middlesex top order for a couple of hours in the evening. Middlesex were to be without Dawid Malan who had a broken hand and will take no further part in the match.

With an 11:00 start on an April day, it was only to be expected that Notts would lose a couple of wickets in the first session, which they duly did. The weather was better than on the first 2 days, with the sun shining, a cloudless blue sky but still with a rather cool breeze. Gidman was the first to go, caught by Robson off the occasional bowling of Voges for a rather languid 18 off 62 deliveries in a stand of 51. Hales then followed, caught behind off the bowling of the persevering Murtagh for 37. Samit Patel and James Taylor kept a steady hand on the tiller and Notts took lunch at 187 for 4, a lead of 304. The magic 400 was gradually appearing over the horizon and Harris, who had bowled so well in the first innings had conceded 65 off 11 overs.

The sun was becoming warmer in the afternoon and whatever minor demons were in the pitch earlier in the match had long since disappeared.  Patel and Titch Taylor took full advantage and took the score to 209, a lead of 326, at which point Patel played a lazy aerial sweep into the waiting hands of Harris at short fine leg for 33. The lucky bowler was Adam Voges, who looked to have done his Christmas shopping earlier than usual and had suddenly taken 2 for 13 from 9 overs. Patel had looked in good form, timing the ball in front of the wicket but the dismissal was reminiscent of the “chuck it away” variety which adorned the first day. Taylor continued in superb form and a beautifully driven four brought up his fifty from 69 balls, with 8 crisply hit boundaries. However he soon perished on 61 attempting a pointless reverse sweep off the flat medium paced off spin of the chubby Stirling, giving him a wicket his bowling did not deserve. Nick Cook was quick to raise the finger for his 6^th lbw decision of the match, the score now standing at at 258 for 6, and the lead now 375. Sadly, another impressive innings terminated by a poor shot.

Wessels and Read added another 46, of which 38 came from the flashing blade of Wessels who looked in good form. He was then adjudged to be lbw to give Murtagh his third victim of the innings, Nick Cook for once missing out as the decision came from Michael Gough. Tea was taken at 329 for 7, with the lead now 446 and no hint of a declaration.

The after tea session saw a 50 partnership, Read contributing the major share and Philander for some inexplicable reason playing quietly down the line with no urgency whatsoever. His contribution to the stand was a mere 12. Read then let rip, with a rasping 6 to the longer part of the ground into the Mound Stand, followed by a couple of exquisite fours. He lost has somnolent partner when Philander played a lazy shot to a short ball from the hitherto luckless Harris and presented Robson with an easy catch at backward point. So, the 8^th wicket fell at 388 and out came Jake Ball to show how it should be done with a towering cross-batted cover drive which went high into the Grandstand for an enormous six. He had been missed the ball before by wicket keeper John Simpson after going several yards down the track. He nicked the ball to the keeper who dropped the catch and then fumbled the stumping chance; not very often a batsman is missed twice within a few seconds!  On 96, Read proceeded to scamper a couple of quickly run twos and brought up his hundred, a truly magnificent captain’s innings from 76 balls. Anyone going for a cup of overpriced Lord’s tea would have missed the best part of it as Read’s second fifty of his innings came from only 19 deliveries. The captain then declared at 401 for 8, leaving Middlesex the task of either batting out the final 23 overs plus the whole of the 4^th day to force a draw, or go for the win with a key batsman missing in the chase for the required 519. One hopes that alternative number three will be the outcome, with a win by Notts to join Yorkshire somewhere near the top of the table after their win against Worcestershire earlier on.

Philander and Ball opened the bowling in the Middlesex second innings and both looked lively. Ball seems a yard or so quicker and much fitter than last year and was rewarded by getting England reject Sam Robson lbw with his third ball. 0 for 1 and one man missing, but Notts had no further reward despite Gurney bowling well with 4 slips and whatever runs were being scored were going through the wide 3^rd man area. At the close, on 57 for one, Compton was looking gradually more self assured and confident, outscoring his partner Gubbins. The last session of the day was not without incident when Compton got his pads in the way of a quick ball from Gurney down the leg side, which eluded Read’s dive. The batsmen started to run but the ball crossed the boundary. Instead of signalling the four, Nick Cook indicated that it was a dead ball; presumably because he thought Compton did not play a shot. Compton walked to the other end in an animated huff and told Cook what he thought of the decision but the umpire produced that apish grin that has become his trademark in recent years and told Compton to get back down the other end.

Gidman bowled a few overs from the Nursery end, tidy but not menacing. He has yet to produce in any pre season games or in this one with either bat or ball, and hopefully purely on a temporary basis he is still “work in process”.

All in all, it was a great day at HQ which one does not get every April. AC

Guest report by Alan Coombes

Check out the photos from the first 2 days on Facebook - links can be found from this page either to the top right and/or the bottom of the page.




Day 2

A brilliant day at Lord’s saw Notts lead by 218 runs with eight second innings standing.

A great team performance saw Middlesex all out for 181 and Notts were 101 for 2 at stumps.

Harry Gurney lasted two balls in the morning as he hit Finn to backward point where sub Ryan Higgins took the catch. Chris Read was left unbeaten on 62 runs.

Middlesex were already in trouble when it was confirmed that Dawid Malan had broken his finger and would not bat in either innings. Philander opened up from the Pavilion End and bowled four good accurate overs with plenty of movement, he then left the field for a time.

Robson and Gubbins added 51 before the excellent Gurney knocked over Gubbins’ off stump as the Leeds/Bradford left hander was out for 23. Compton looked at ill at ease as the improving Gidman finally bowled his first maiden for Notts at the 27^th attempt. Philander returned to the field and bowled a peach of a ball that came in to Compton and broke a bail. Compton gone for three, 59 for two.

Notts were hunting as a pack and straight after lunch, Ball bowling from the Pavilion End bowled Sam Robson (35); the former England opener not offering a shot. Voges and Stirling added 32 runs before Gurney bowling from the Pavilion End got one too keep low and strike Voges on the pads, the Sheffield Shield player of the year gone for 29. Next over Paul Stirling (11) fell to a good catch at second slip by Patel off the deserving Ball, 107 for five.

John Simpson and James Harris added 40 for the sixth wicket until two wickets in three balls set Middlesex back. Samit Patel has fond memories of bowling from the Nursery End following his man of the match performance in Glamorgan final two years ago. Having replaced the accurate Gidman he removed Harris with his 4^th ball plumb leg before for 16. Helm lasted two balls before departing in identikit fashion for a duck, Middlesex 147 for seven. Murtagh saved the follow-on as the home crowd gave ironic cheers.

Gurney then had Simpson (35) caught at slip by Wessels and then Middlesex’s mediocre innings expired when Murtagh who went for his shots against Patel was well caught by Brendan Taylor at deep mid-wicket as Patel took his third wicket. Middlesex had been bowled out for a well under par total as all the Notts bowlers had bowled well. Philander moving the ball and much more accurate than Siddle ever was unlucky to only take a solitary wicket. Gurney was the pick with three for 50 and was well supported by Patel (3 for 30) and Jake Ball with two for 38. The accuracy of the Notts attack can be gauged by the Middlesex innings was scored at 2.74 RPO. Crucially Notts had also held all their catches.

Mullaney and Brendan Taylor added 77 runs in the evening sunshine. Mullaney went for his shots hitting nine four mostly through the covers and hitting a six into the Mound Stand. Helm clean bowled him for a 59-ball 44. Brendan Taylor (34) fell three overs later when he skied Murtagh to short long off where Finn took an easy catch. Gidman came in as night watchman as Notts closed on 101 for two. They will looking for another 180 runs today. A repeat of their first innings bowling performance should then see Notts home, but remember what happened in the reverse fixture at Trent Bridge last season.....MAG

Day 1

Of the 12 players in the history of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club that have scored a century on first class debut, only Brendan Taylor has gone on and scored a century in the second appearance for Notts as well.



When the players were led off by the umpires for poor light, Notts were 298/9 Chris Read 62* Harry Gurney 8*. No light being used at Lord's, the ground being restricted to 12 days of floodlight use throughout the year by the local council.

MAG's first eye witness report of 2015.........

A dramatic collapse which saw James Harris take four wickets in 11 balls just before tea saw Notts lose the initiative on a sunny and windy day at Lord’s.

Notts won the toss and elected to bat as Vernon Philander made his debut replacing Fletcher. The Bulwelian seemed to lack his zip in the Loughborough Students game.

Play began in bright sunshine but with the wind howling in the Nursery End it was much warmer in the Warner stand. Brendan Taylor was making his first appearance at Lord’s as he looked solid with Murtagh and Finn bowling good opening spells.

Mullaney did not look so confident and he was twice grassed in the slip cordon off Tom Helm bowling from the Nursery End whilst on 12 (Malan) and 18 (Voges). He then chopped on as Helm finally got his man, Mullaney having made a 65-ball 22, Notts 70 for one.

Hales came in but a mental aberration saw him try to take a single having the hit the ball straight to Murtagh in the covers. Brendan Taylor sent him back but he was run out by a considerable margin as he departed for a seven ball duck, 72 for two.

Titch Taylor joined his namesake as Notts dominated the next two hours of play. James Taylor was nearly out just before lunch top edging a sweep off Voges occasionally twirlers, keeper failing to get his gloves to a sharp chance. The pitch was on the slow side and James Taylor after a bright start was reduced to scampering singles, Brendan Taylor meanwhile was much more settled hitting Murtagh over his head to bring up his half ton.

Harris came on the Nursery End and the Zimbabwean cover drove him for four and then repeated the shot as he got the three to get him to a well deserved ton, his second in back to back games for Notts, a club record for a debutant. It was a superb innings and further back up the opinion that his signing in an excellent one for Notts.

Notts were well in control and Middlesex’s heads were dropping. James Taylor (36) then played a poor shot as he hit Harris straight to Gubbins at midwicket, 180 for three. Three balls later Patel received the ball of the day, playing to ball that came back at him, moved and kept slightly low. Patel gone for a blob, 180 for four. Worse was to follow as in Harris’ next over Wessels was leg before for one. Five balls later Brendan Taylor was adjudged leg before as umpire Nick Cook took an age to raise his now smoldering finger. Taylor left to a standing ovation from the good sized crowd his 106 came off 188 balls with 14 fours. Notts now in a real mess on 183 for six on a wicket with little menace.

Read and Gidman (9) added 20 until the former Gloucester man who has had mediocre pre season edged Helm tamely into Simpson’s gloves as he became the seventh victim from the Nursery End, 203 for seven.

Philander advanced to a breezy 17 including three boundaries but before stumped by a mile as captain Voges picked up a rare wicket as the South African became the first victim from the Pavilion End, Notts 224 for eight.

Ball despite constantly backing away to the returning Finn got to 16 before lifting the Watford man to Stirling at third man, Notts though had now got to welcome second batting point, 264 for nine.

Read was playing his normal fighting innings reaching his 50 off 80 balls with successive fours. A pulled six into the Grandstand followed by a lofted four off Helm, saw Notts to within two runs of another batting point. The light though was now getting poor. Umpires Cook and Gough discussed the situation and with Middlesex deciding not to return to the spinners the players trooped off at 1820 with three overs left unbowled. Gurney was undefeated on 8 as his captain was 62 not out an innings off 89 balls with eight fours and one six. Notts 298 for nine on a good wicket with lowish bounce from the Nursery End. A score of 350 to 400 would be considered par. Notts will be hoping that Philander settles into rhythm straight away and that Gidman finally dusts off the cobwebs. Another dry day is promised with less sun but with a gentle breeze.  

James Harris with four for 75 was the pick of the home team attack, who bowled well in the testing blustery conditions.’

Preview

Nottinghamshire with signs that their batting is approaching a position of confidence ahead of the new season-proper, have announced a 13 man squad for the trip to HQ.


Chris Read capt. wk
Alex Hales
Steven Mullaney
Greg Smith
Samit Patel
James Taylor
Brendan Taylor
Riki Wessels
Will Gidman
Vernon Philander
Jake Ball
Luke Fletcher
Harry Gurney

Indicators from the Loughborough game would suggest that Greg Smith will miss out again and Jake Ball will make way for Vernon Philander by virtue of the need not to have the tail starting at 9.

Up against Notts will be a Steven Finn with a point to prove after missing out on the England tour to the West Indies. Finn claims that he working up to bowling spells at 90mph and that his stock deliveries are just as quick as they have ever been, so plenty of a handful for the Notts batters. Another player that is expected to be playing for Middlesex is Adam Voges, their new captain, man of the Sheffield Shield competition 2014-15 and former successful Outlaw. Tim Murtagh is also expected to return from injury and he bowled well against Notts last year.
James Franklin has arrive from New Zealand for Middlesex, "not match fit".