v Derbyshire Falcons Nat West T20 Blast at Derby 3aaa County Ground

WOEFUL OUTLAWS, FLOP AT DERBY

Notts’ woeful season went from bad to worse as they crashed to a humiliating 34 run defeat at Derby last night.

Heavy rain delayed the start by 30 minutes in this basement battle. Following the one-sided affair last Friday in Leeds in came Hales, Smith and Hilfenhaus and out went Brendan Taylor, Sam Wood and Ball. Wessels donned the gloves.

Derby won the toss and decided to bat. A dreadful first over from Gurney went for 14. Fletcher’s first over went for seven. Gurney then leaked 13 as Derby already had 34 in three overs.

Dealing with a wet ball on a slippery surface did not help matters although the ground fielding performance on the night was below that expected of a professional team. Captain Durston (11) skied the ball to Fletcher at short fine leg, 44 for one after five.

Hamish Rutherford was gorging himself against the mediocre fare as Derbyshire got to 59 for two at the end of the 6 over power play. The Kiwi eventually falling to catch at mid-wicket by Patel as Hilfenhaus picked up his second wicket.

The support bowling also proved expensive as Derbyshire kept the 10 an over scoring rate through the whole innings. Chesney Hughes twice hit Patel over long on for six as he raced to 50 in just 27 balls. The third wicket partnership with Madsen added 64 in six overs before Madsen skied a caught and bowled chance to Mullaney, the South African gone for 13. The Anguillan Hughes departed in the next over to a catch behind by Wessels off Christian for 52 including five fours and three sixes. He was later named man of the match. Former Notts man Elstone was bowled by Hilfenhaus for 11, 139 for 5 now after 13.1. Hilfenhaus was Notts bowler of the night with 4-0-29-3.

Thakor skied Fletcher to mid-wicket to depart for 8, but despite now taking wickets they were still haemorrhaging runs. Over 17 from the hapless Gurney went for 13, the bowler clearly short of form and confidence. Alex Hughes was caught on the deep mid wicket ropes off Christian who finished with 4-0-34-2. Derbyshire eventually got to 201 for seven at least 20 over par as Gurney likely to be dropped for today’s encounter had 4-0-49-0 to his name. The former reliable Patel and Mullaney had figures of 3-0-32-0 and 2-0-22-1 respectively. Fletcher the normal Twenty/20 lynchpin once again failed to bowl his allocation with 3-0-26-1.

Notts took 13 off over 1 bowled by Wayne White. Aussie Nathan Rimmington delivered what seemed a near mortal blow to Notts’ challenge when he bowled Hales first ball. But Lumb and Wessels showed fight as Notts raced to 72 in the first six overs. Durston’s spinners slowed things down somewhat as only eight runs came off next two overs. Lumb falling to catch at long on for 22 off 21 deliveries, 77 for two.

Wessels the only consistent batsman for Notts this season was batting superbly he hit Durston for a six and a four but next ball he perished to catch on the deep wicket ropes off the former Somerset man for 66 made off 33 balls with nine fours and three sixes, Notts 97 for three off 9.4 overs were still up with the stiff 10 an over asking rate.

The momentum was lost as the out of form James Taylor could only find the boundary twice in 27 balls as Notts fell off the cliff. Patel got to 21 before being caught above his head by Durston at cover off Thakor, 66 now needed off 33 balls.

Christian was run out for two following a mix up with his captain. Smith having hit his sole ball faced for four was run out as Taylor attempted a desperate second, 52 now required off just 23 balls.

James Taylor then holed out on mid wicket ropes as Elstone got the catch, Taylor gone for 33 as Thakor took the wicket. Mullaney, Fletcher and Hilfenhaus went over the top but did not last long as Notts closed on 167 all out with five balls unused. Aussie Rimmington had figures of 4-0-24-3 and young Alex Hughes was the most economical man with 4-0-22-0. Wayne White (3.1-0-49-1) apart Derbyshire had bowled with much greater discipline and their ground fielding was much superior. Notts though still lie above Derby on net run rate in the table as they now appear to require six wins out of last eight games to stand any chance of quarter final qualification. A tall order.

Notts are clearly short of confidence on the pitch and short of ideas off it, not an ideal scenario.  Expect either Jake Ball or AnDai Carter to come in for Gurney. Chris Read in the squad last night may also be introduced against Northants later today.

Mick Newell is due to face the members Monday lunchtime; a daunting experience for him whether Notts win or lose today. A squad full of experienced international players is clearly underperforming; there should be no excuses.MAG