v Durham Jets RLODC Q/F at Trent Bridge

DURHAM MISS THE BOAT AS RAIN REDUCES RESULT TO AN OUTLAWS RUNAWAY STEAL

Despite losing the toss and falling foul of the vagaries of Duckworth Lewis algorithm, Notts comfortably defeated Durham by 49 runs in what turned out to be a 24 over game at TB last night.


Mark Stoneman won the toss and inserted Notts. A no brainer in terms of the woeful weather forecast which predicted rain for most of the afternoon. The wicket was the same one used for Kent and Hampshire games last week.

Notts got off to a steady start adding 48 runs in the first 10 over power play. Ominously most of the early innings was played in light rain. The rain stopped momentarily but at the end of 13th over Wessels pulled a ball from Hastings to midwicket where Borthwick took the catch. Wessels out for 25, Notts 55 for one. Hales was batting aggressively and reached 50 off 46 balls. Hales and Christian had added 39 in 5.2 overs when the rain got heavy enough to bring the players off at 1510. Notts 94 for one off 17.2 overs.

The players were off the field for four hours and 50 minutes and only the diehards remained on the ground when play resumed at 2000 in what was now a 24 over game.

Notts made splendid use of the remaining 6.4 overs adding a further 76 runs. Hales got to 62 off 54 balls with seven fours and two sixes. He tried one big hit too many holing out to the deep mid wicket boundary where Pringle took a crisp catch off Collingwood, Notts 109 for two. In 22th over bowled from the Pavilion End, James Taylor hit three consecutive sixes off Borthwick’s leg spinners. Dan Christian was also hitting the ball well and 56 runs were added in only five overs. Notts were 165 for two with one over remaining. Wily fox Collingwood bowled the last over and only conceded five. James Taylor (29) whirlwind 15-ball innings ended as caught at short third man by Onions. Five balls later Patel (1) skied to the third man ropes where Rushworth took the catch. Christian was left unbeaten on 48 off 35 balls with three fours and two sixes. Notts 170 for 4. Borthwick had gone for 41 off his three overs, meanwhile Collingwood had snapped three wickets for 26 runs in 18 balls. Notts reward for scoring at 11.4 RPO in their overs following the rain was brutal as Durham were heavily rewarded for winning the toss only requiring 194 off 24 overs at 8.08 RPO. Once again Vera had favoured the team batting second. 

Durham started their reply at 2039 with the moon now out. Gurney went for 12 in over one. Brett Hutton bowled over 2 from the Pavilion End and Durham stood at 22 for 0 after two overs. Gurney then bowled five dot balls then conceded a single. After the reduced five over Power play one Durham stood at 42 for 0 off five overs. Durham were 19 runs ahead of the Duck Egg par score when they lost their first wicket on 63 one the last ball of the seventh over. Captain Mark Stoneman caught at mid on by Hutton off Christian for a 22-ball 36, Christian having gone for 11 off his previous five balls of his first over. Mullaney took two wickets in his first over as Mustard, keen to get on with it was caught at long on by Wessels for 24. Then two balls later Collingwood blasted the ball the ball straight back to Mull to depart for a golden duck, Durham 64 for three. Durham were now seven behind Duckworth Lewis Par Score. Clark and MacLeod made steady progress initially but then put the foot on the accelerator as the away side were now strong favourites.

At one stage Brendan Taylor dived straight through the saw dust trying to stop an overthrow, it was real comedy cricket at its best! The fifteenth over by bowled by Christian went for 13 as Durham stood on 121 for three. They now needed 73 off the remaining nine overs. After DC proved expensive, Titch had no choice but turn to Patel who had not bowled previously. Off his fourth ball Graham Clark was caught low down at cover by the captain to depart for a 26-ball 28. Over 16 had gone for 5. When Ball now bowling from the Radcliffe Road End went for five in the next over. Durham now needed 63 off seven overs. Over 18 bowled Samit went ..1w1. as the screw was now turning Callum MacLeod being caught at backward square leg by Hales for 34 off 28 balls. Mullaney switched ends to the Radcliffe Road End as his final over went for just three as Muchall was caught at cover for five. Durham now needed 58 off the last five overs with only four wickets left. They had messed it up as Mullaney finished with 5-0-32-3. Patel’s third and last over went for four but crucially two more wickets. Ryan Pringle (3) was caught on deep square leg ropes by Hales and then big hitting John Hastings was at deep mid wicket by Dan Christian for two. The game was nearly up. Patel was named man of the match with figures of 3-0-11-4. In a reprise of the previous day against The Bears Mullaney and Patel had bowled Notts to victory. Rushworth was then run out by Mullaney and Gurney going for a two and then with 16 balls unused Borthwick was bowled by Ball for six. Durham 144 all out at 2214. Notts had won handsomely despite drawing the short straw on D/L target, a richly deserved triumph. Long term Notts fans would know given a freely drawn semi-final that an away tie would be almost inevitable and Notts prize for losing one game is nine is either a visit to The Oval or the St Lawrence and without Hales and Titch too. MAG