v Sussex LV Championship at Trent Bridge

Day 3

NOTTS HAVE MEMORABLE VICTORY

Summer finally came today both in metrological and cricketing sense as Notts picked up their first championship win since last August.

The win by 159 runs was richly deserved and completely unexpected after losing a crucial toss and being 55 for six on day 1. Ball, Wood and Patel really stepped up when required.

Leading by 294 runs overnight, Notts soon subsided to 243 all out. The eighth wicket stand got to 133 until Wood was caught low at backward point by Sussex skipper Nash off Robinson for 53. In a lot of respects his second innings was a better effort than the first, a much more controlled innings, what a game he had, and he was not finished. Patel got to a superb ton but perished next ball top edging to cover as Magoffin went nap. Patel’s 100 came off 142 balls with 12 4’s and one six. From the next delivery Ball was caught behind as Magoffin finished with 6 for 50, for match figures of 12 for 159. Notts 243 all out, led by 309.

Notts had to take early wickets. Wells was badly grassed by Brendan Taylor at first slip off Wood but in over five, Yardy was plumb leg before to the Welbeck destroyer, the left hander out for a quack. Ball was on a hat trick when with the first ball of his next over Machan also departed leg before without troubling the scores, 16 for two. Wood got his man when Taylor made amends for his earlier drop by catching Wells for 16, 24 for three. The inexperienced opening bowlers were on fire! Wright went for his shots, but with the score on 49 a lethal delivery to Nash popped up and Greg Smith took the catch at short leg, Wood now had five wickets and 153 runs in the match, was this all a dream?

Gurney replacing Ball from the Radcliffe Road could not get his length right and kept dropping it short to Luke Wright. But then got one to get up to Cachopa as Wessels having a good game behind the stumps took the catch, 66 for 5. Cachopa the third man to bag a blob in the innings. In his next over Gurney pitched one up and Wright lost his middle peg to exit with a 36 ball 39, an innings which included eight fours, 79 for 6. Jordan (8) was the next victim, the left armer having him caught behind for 8. Next ball Robinson edged to Smith in the gulley, 97 for eight. Gurney mixing very bad with very good had the bizarre figures of 4-0-30.-4. Lunch was delayed 15 minutes to see if Notts could get over the line, but no more wickets fell.

The players emerged at 1355 in bright sunshine and Magoffin enjoyed himself in a run a ball 35, but then Gurney got a personal best as the Aussie was bowled. Next over Hilda Hobden became Ball’s third victim of the innings when he became the fifth duck of the innings. Sussex 150 all out scored at 4.68 RPO as Notts won by 159 runs. Ben Brown 27 not out. Ball in the breakthrough game of his career had match figures of 25-10-67-9. Gurney having a barren 2015 with the red ball had given himself a massive boost with a career best 9-0-43-5. But Luke Wood was undoubtedly the man of the match in an unforgettable match. One of the most bizarre in Notts’ long history..

Hilfenhaus was bowling on the square at lunchtime as it was announced that Broad would get out his green and yellow pyjamas for Friday’s game against the Foxes on Friday. He will also play in the 4-day games at Taunton and Leeds; who will be captain in those two games I wonder Mullaney, Wessels or B Taylor, take your pick?. Further good news was that Hales and Titch Taylor will play in the baseball skirmish at New Road on Sunday.

There was time to pop across the road to Lady Bay to see the Seconds beat Warwick by 5 wickets with Will Root seeing them home with 55 not out. Well done to The General and all..

MAG Day 2
TEENAGE HERO STRIKES TWICE 

as Wood, Ball and Patel have good days for Notts

On another fantastic day of helter skelter cricket Notts lead by 294 with three second innings intact.

On a day of continuous high cross winds and after heavy overnight rain, Sussex resumed on 39 for 3. Nash went for his shots but Ball bowling from the Radcliffe Road end got his man leg before for 15, 61 for 4. Wright (15) hit three fours before losing his off pole also to the brisk Ball, 84 for 5. In his next over Brown was caught behind for a duck, 84 for 6. But just like in Notts innings the 7th wicket put on runs. Cachopa was badly dropped at first slip by Brendan Taylor when on 19, the Zimbabwean having two failed attempts at holding on, the unlucky bowler being Gurney. Jordan was put down on 23 a very sharp chance at second slip to Mullaney off Gidman. Finally the erratic Wood bowled Jordan for 39. The seventh wicket stand had added 69 runs in 11 overs. Sussex added a further 20 runs to get to lunch at 173 for seven. Ball had bowled magnificently in the morning session, bowled with high pace and venom, easily the best we have seen from him.

With the floodlights rocking in the high speed winds, Mullaney who had bowled just before lunch was kept on after the interval and he picked up Ollie Robinson (13) to smart catch at slip by Gidman, 181 for eight. Next over Cachopa’s 83 ball innings ended as Ball smashed down his stumps, the South-African born New Zealander with the Portuguese passport out for 54 an innings which contained nine fours and a six. Ball picked his sixth wicket when Hobden was leg before for 3, Sussex all out 189, as Notts led by 66 runs. Ball finished with 17-6-49-6, out pacing Jordan to be the fastest bowler on show in this match. Wood the first Notts centurion batting number 9 since Eddie Hemmings versus Yorkshire at Worksop in 1982, finished with three wickets for 61.

Magoffin initially started from the Pavilion End but soon switched ends and he was rewarded when Brendan Taylor’s barren spell continued losing his middle peg to depart for seven, 28 for one. Next over Mullaney (20) edged to the safe hands of Jordan off the burly Robinson, 32 for two. Magoffin was proving unplayable and seemed to have the ball on a string; it was no surprise when Hales (5) edged into Brown’s gloves, 38 for three. The shuffling James Taylor (5) always struggles against the moving ball he survived for 25 balls before the inevitable leg before decision saw him become Robinson’s second victim, 48 for four, Notts were now in trouble. Wessels as of late once again looked in fine fettle and cracked five boundaries but then edged Jordan as the wind blew the ball to Luke Wright at third man, Wessels gone for 26, 76 for 5. It looked at the time the mortal blow.

Greg Smith (11) never looked in touch but seemed somewhat surprised when he was adjudged caught behind of the returning Magoffin, 108 for 6. Gidman was unlucky to deflect the ball off his body onto the stumps to depart for a three ball duck as Magoffin got his fourth of the innings and tenth in the match, Notts 108 for seven with a slender lead of 174..The enigma that is Patel the man who never looks out of form but who was struggling for runs this season was batting very responsibility putting away the bad balls joined forces with man of the moment Luke Wood. With the ball now losing its shine, Magoffin tiring, Jordan less effective than normal and with a lack of support bowling, batting became much easier in the evening sunshine. Patel got to 50 in 65 balls as the runs started to flow. Young Wood looked in good form once more but had a stroke of luck losing his middle stump to a Jordan no ball. To rub salt in the wounds the next ball went for 4 byes, much the crowd’s amusement. Wood then reached a scarcely believable 50 to go with his first innings ton. The eighth wicket partnership was worth an unbroken 120 at the close with Notts on 228 for seven. Patel played a magnificent hand being undefeated on 88 off 129 balls with 11 fours and one six. He seems to like the Martlet bowling after two tremendous tons at Hove in recent years.

Much better weather is promised tomorrow and with the pitch less treacherous Notts will looking to get further runs on the board. The pitch though still has bounce and key to success tomorrow for Notts is taking new ball wickets. If Ball can bowl as well as today and Gurney can finally rediscover his red ball MoJo a home victory is now a possibility. Come on Notts!

Day 1

Heroic Wood smashes century to jump start Notts' season (?)

A quite superb ton by Luke Wood turned this game on its head with Notts seemingly down and out at 55 for six finishing the day 216 runs ahead with Sussex on 39 for three.

With Philander gone, Gidman came in. Read who is out for six weeks was replaced by the returning Hales as Smith retained his place following the Somerset debacle. Titch Taylor was captain as Sussex won the toss and inserted Notts. Sussex meanwhile were without Shahzad and nemesis Ed Joyce away playing with Ireland.

After a sunny morning the clouds came over at 1055. With another green pitch, Magoffin bowling from the Pavilion End was getting lavish movement. With the score on 13 and in his second over, the Australian got Brendan Taylor plumb leg before for nine. In the sixth over of the day a firm drive from Mullaney was brilliantly held to his left by the bowler Jordan, Notts 21 for 2, Mullaney gone for 11. James Taylor lasted the final ball of the over. Hales got a single from the next ball bowled by Magoffin, but next ball James Taylor shuffled across his crease to depart for a duck, 22 for 3.

Hales was next on the conveyor belt getting his stumps demolished by Jordan for 6, 30 for 4. There followed a couple of rain stoppages which took 25 minutes out of the play. When play resumed Wessels (7) then received a brute of a ball that moved and took off, he can only could edge Magoffin to Ben Brown behind the stumps, 38 for 5. Patel and Greg Smith added 17, until Patel wafted at one from Magoffin after he made 17, 55 for 5. Gidman joined Smith as Notts went to lunch on 63 for 6.

Notts and Gidman in particular went for their shots after lunch as Magoffin was seen off. With the seventh wicket partnership worth 43 Greg Smith was bowled by Ollie Robinson for 14. Will Gidman was joined by Luke Wood and they decided attack was the best form of defence; with the ball getting older batting was becoming less hazardous and the pair had added 68 in 12 overs when the rain returned with Notts 166 for 7 in the 45th over.

Wood hit a leg side six on the resumption off Magoffin but the break had disturbed Gidman’s concentration as he edged Magoffin into the safe hands of Jordan at slip. Gidman’s 57 in very trying circumstances was commendable and came off 71 balls with 10 fours. Gidman short of confidence early doors and not helped by his unjust demotion will hopefully take the confidence of this innings with the ball tomorrow. Gidman and Wood had added 75 in just 12 overs. But this was the hors d’oeuvres the main course was still to follow. Wood took a leaf out of the Andre Adams batting manual and launched into the Sussex bowling taking advantage of the short Bridgford Road boundary.

Wood hit six maximums in total in a 96-ball innings which included 10 fours. Ball joined Wood and they added 46 in six overs as Ball also clubbed two sixes. Notts had reached a totally unexpected batting point. Gurney came the crease and Wood clearly having an old head and young shoulders shepherding the bowling in superb style as Gurney did not face a ball in 25 minutes. Young Wood twice ran byes to retain the strike as Sussex were becoming increasingly frustrated. The second batting point was bagged.

Wood got to 98 with another massive six and Nash decided to give Luke Wells a twirl, a leg side two saw Wood to his 100, amid scenes of great jubilation. Just a shame a lot of the crowd had already gone home on a bitterly cold windy showery day, freezing not flaming June. Wood nicked the next ball to Brown behind the stumps but no one on the ground will ever forget this innings. They still talk about Bill Taylor’s efforts against Sussex 40 years ago; this innings will be up there in the Tales of the Unexpected. Notts all out 255 at least 100 more than expected at lunchtime. Magoffin finished with figures of 22-2-109-6, the wicket and atmospherics in the morning could not have been more suited for him.


The fun did not stop there; Luke Wells (10) were palpably leg before to Ball who was producing a lot of pace bowling from the Radcliffe Road. Yardy (2) lasted eight balls before edging to Brendan Taylor at first slip off that Wood, 16 for two, as the players trooped off once more for another stoppage for rain. When they returned Machan took 20 off Wood’s third over including an edge which bisected the slips. But the Scotland World Cup player got too cocky and he edged Wood to Gidman at third slip to depart for20. Seven balls later the rain returned as play was abandoned for the day with Sussex 39 for three.


On a day of twists and turns 294 runs had been scored for the loss of 13 wickets off 64.3 overs. High class entertainment but the star of the day was Luke Wood who clearly has a great future in the game. A very windy day is forecast tomorrow which might hinder the bowlers. The first hour will be crucial, it was apparent in the Notts innings that batting got easier as the ball got older.MAG