v Leicestershire Foxes NWT20 Blast at Trent Bridge

OUTLAWS NOT GIVEN TIME AND ARE SERVED A PENALTY NOTICE 

A poor performance with the bat and in the field saw Notts slip to a six wicket defeat against visitors Leicester.

The promised heat wave never arrived but a crowd of 11057 turned up on another cool evening. Leicester won the toss and inserted Notts. Broad replaced Sam Wood from the team that defeated Durham.

Ten runs came off over one bowled by Sheikh, but too many dot balls followed as Hales in particular was somewhat bogged down. McKay bowled the fourth over, the first ball was hit for a leg side six, but next ball Wessels lost his middle stump to depart for a 13-ball 18, 29 for one. Mullaney promoted up the order hit a four but there were five dot balls in his four, Mull departing to a skier to deep cover off Sheikh. Notts reached the end of the power play at 36 for 2, woefully under par.

Things got better in the next four over as Hales started to break the shackles, Notts reaching 71 for 2 after 10 overs, well on target to hit par 160. Naik was allowed to his four overs for 23 and with his penultimate ball Hales hit the ball to long on where Rob Taylor took the catch. Hales’ 54 came off 42 balls with four fours and three sixes. Notts 103 for three with six overs left.

Brendan Taylor out of form for the last month or so was bogged down and was joined Patel. Only 29 runs were added in four overs before Patel (12) skied the ball to mid off as McKay took the wicket. Twelve runs came off over 19. The last over bowled by Clint McKay went dot ball to Sammy, two runs, then a leg bye then three wickets. Brendan Taylor was leg before for a 39-ball 47; an innings which included six fours. James Taylor who cannot buy a run at present fell first ball to a reverse sweep, Ned Eckersley taking the catch behind the stumps. Broad was run out off the last ball. Notts 148 for seven, below par and with McKay having figures of 4-0-24-4. The pitch was on the slow side as too many glory shots were attempted when in retrospect more nudging and nurdling was required.

Leicester had bowled one no ball and not given away a wide. Straight away Notts’ sloppiness was apparent as Ball opened with a 9 ball over including three wides. Eckersley skied to the captain at point off the overs eighth ball. Ball’s next over went for 11, but pinch hitter Raine lost his middle stump for 5. In his next over danger man Cosgrove also lost his middle stump for 18. Ball had picked up three wickets for 27. Leicester ended the power play at 48 for three, 12 runs ahead of Notts’ effort after six overs.

Broad bowled a good spell as he removed Agathangelou to a catch at mid wicket by Patel, 53 for four after eight overs.

The game management by the captain was poor, or should I say the five or so captains, hands were being waved by all and sundry. Fielders were being moved all over the place it was like Clapham junction at rush hour. The first 10 overs had taken 45 minutes to bowl; the penny finally dropped far too late it was obvious the Notts were going to receive a run penalty, not helped by having a left and right hand combination at the wicket with Akmal and Boyce. Notts were now running between balls.

More often than not, Mullaney and Patel could be guaranteed to turn the screw particularly on a slowish pitch. They were ignored and the match lost. Akmal and Boyce had learnt from Notts poor tactics and were virtually scoring off every ball and with wickets in hand and with bonus runs guaranteed Leicester were well placed to accelerate towards the end. Ball’s last over went for 15 as he finished with 4-0-42-3, too expensive in a low scoring game. Leicester required 42 off the last five or was that 36 or 30, no one was quite sure.  Nineteen runs came off the next three overs bowled by Sammy (4-0-26-0), Gurney (3-0-21-0) and Broad (4-0-20-1). 126 for four with two overs left.

Fletcher looking out of sorts and clearly not in tip top physical shape bowled over 19 to Akmal it went 626.6 as Leicester stood at 146 for four with seven balls left. The umpires then pulled the plug as Notts had run out of time, six runs to Leicester and the game won, as they now stood on 152 for four. The fourth wicket had added 93 (+6) runs with Akmal unbeaten on 76 on 49 balls with five sixes and Boyce on 21 not out. A very unprofessional effort and hopefully a post mortem was held  to ensure that it does not happen again.

Next up Worcester at New Road on Sunday with Hilfenhaus expected to make his debut replacing Broad.MAG