v Warwickshire Bears RLODC at The John Fretwell Sports Ground, Welbeck Colliery.

HALES-STORM HITS WARWICKSHIRE FOR SIX

as Bears get a mauling
A 61-ball 103 from Alex Hales mauled Warwickshire in front of a crowd of 2,228 at Welbeck in the opening Royal London fixture.

On dry, windy day with intermittent sunshine captain James Taylor won the toss and inserted the visitors. Out went Lumb and Sam Wood from the 20 over victory at Durham; in came Brendan Taylor and Luke Fletcher. Warwickshire meanwhile had Ian Bell in their line up but were missing Chopra, Trott, Hain, Wright, Hannon-Dalby, Rankin, Porterfield and Westwood.

The ground part of John Fretwell Sports Complex was well appointed with a large playing area and an excellent outfield. The Welbeck club had arranged for many catering outlets, toilets, and a shuttle bus service from Mansfield Woodhouse station and had even arranged for temporary traffic lights after the game to get the vehicles away as soon as possible. Their efforts were rewarded with a good sized crowd with a large following from the West Midlands and of course a Notts win.

Fletcher and Gurney opened up and in the seventh over Bell drove a ball from Fletcher down the pitch but the Hand of Luke intervened as the ball deflected onto the non striker’s stumps as List A debutant was run out backing up for 11. Later Webb injured his shoulder on the boundary diving for a ball; clearly it was not his day. Warwick 25 for one. Tiny Tim joined Bell and they were making comfortable progress adding 33 in six overs before Ambrose edged a Christian delivery into Read’s gloves to depart for 18. Christian had bowled five wides in first two overs. In his next over, Christian picked up the key wicket of Rikki Clarke caught at slip by Hales for a single, 62 for three. Warwick slipped deeper in the mire when Christian picked his third wicket in successive overs when Evans (1) edged him to Hales at second slip, 75 for four.

Bell and Woakes added 63 in 13 overs as Warwick seemed to be well placed. Christian having bowled five overs in his opening spell at a cost of 17 runs with three wickets returned and picked up another wicket when Bell was caught at backward point by James Taylor for a 83-ball 52.. Christian who had switched ends to the Scoreboard End then in his next over bowled Woakes off stump for 36, 143 for six. The unorthodox Barker got to 27 before Welbeck’s own Jake Ball removed his leg bail, 191 for seven. Captain Jeetan Patel was then yorked by The Metronome for seven. Javid skied a ball from Gurney to Wessels at deep mid on to become the next victim and the innings closed with five balls unused when Poysden was caught at point by James Taylor as Ball picked up his second scalp. Warwickshire all out for a below par 220 with Christian finishing with figures of 10-2-40-5. Fletch was the most economical bowler going for 36 off his 10 as Notts elected to use five seamers with Patel not being given a bowl. The only minus point was the poor ground fielding from Notts, a recurring feature of 2015 season.

Notts got off to a steady but circumspect start adding 36 runs in the first eight overs of the reply. Then the fireworks started as Hales hit two sixes off left armer Barker in over nine. Within three overs Notts had doubled the score under a Hales blitzkrieg. Leg spinner Poysden was introduced but his third over went for 24 including three sixes from Hales; he was withdrawn from the attack with figures of 3-0-42-0. Gordon was introduced and his first two overs went for 30 as Hales carried on the brutal assault. He got to his ton in 56 balls to continue his historical Hassan-esque hold over the Bears. Gordon celebrated as Hales edged him behind but the game was over as Hales had hit nine sixes and seven fours in his 103. Notts 164 for one in the 21st over. Wessels and James Taylor gathered the remaining 57 runs in eight overs as Notts got home with nine wickets and 21.5 overs to spare at 1642. Wessels was left unbeaten on 85 off 84 balls (8 x 4; 2 x 6) and Taylor was 24 not out from 26 balls. A perfect start to the Welbeck Weekend. MAG

Bears were without Scottish International Freddie Coleman following his two match ban.

Coleman was guilty of showing dissent in a recent Second XI game at York which was his second infringement in the past two years' after an earlier ball condition alteration involving a Murray Mint in August 2013. Coleman also misses Friday night's Blast game at Headingley.