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Day 4
Notts complete 5 wicket win
Notts won their tenth consecutive victory at Worcester today in front of sparse crowd mainly comprised of those of the Green and Gold variety..
After early morning rain, play was due to start on time, but a brief shower meant a five minute delay. Once the players emerged at 1105 only three balls were bowled when the rain arrived once more and players went back to the Graeme Hick Pavilion..
The players re-emerged at 1215 and in 45 minutes play only 29 runs were accumulated as James Taylor and Riki Wessels carried on their risk free strategy. Shantry was racking up the maidens but the two batsmen were in no real trouble.
The players re-emerged after lunch as the sun came out brightly. James Taylor so calm and collected suddenly had a rush of blood to his head as he skied a ball from Ajmal to Gidman at point. Taylor gone for 66 off 127 balls with five fours. The fourth wicket had added 157 in 52 overs. Patel hit a long hop from D’Oliveria over the hedge near the car park. But Wessels trying to match him went the same way as Titch this time the ball going to orbit and landing to Shantry at mid off, Ajmal bowling from the New Road End had two wickets. A real shame that Wessels missed out on a deserved ton but he left with 88 to his name off 190 balls with 11 fours. Notts still needed another 32.
Read joined Patel and the two of them saw Notts over the line at 1425 with an unbroken partnership of 34 with Read on 19 and Patel on 17. Read getting the winning runs with a boundary through backward point off Ajmal. Notts had got their first championship win at New Road since the famous 461 run chase in 2001. Shantry finished with figures of 19-13-23-0.
After 31 days away from Trent Bridge and covering countless miles criss-crossing England the players now take a deserved one weeks rest to recharge their batteries.MAG
Day 3
Titch and Wessels take Notts to the brink
On a sunny day at New Road Notts closed on 157 for 3 needing a further 75 runs with seven second innings wickets still standing.
On a wicket which is getting slower and lower Notts struggled for an early morning breakthrough. Jake Ball seemingly slightly down on pace was bowling somewhat within himself from the Diglis End. Then out of blue he Yorked Joe Clarke for a fine 61. The fifth wicket partnership with Ross Whiteley had added 68 runs in 17 overs.
Notts then got frustrated as a couple of very close leg before decisions were turned down by umpire Garratt off Imran. Notts were being held up by a stubborn partnership between Whiteley and keeper Ben Cox. Fifteen minutes before lunch Tahir bowling from the New Road End had Cox caught by Mullaney at slip for 34 an innings which contained six fours. Worcestershire 219 for 6.
Whiteley was playing a fine knock but three balls after lunch was bowled through the gate by Samit Patel for 78. The innings lasted 145 balls with 10 fours and one six. Shantry was all at sea against Tahir and perished to a catch by Brendan Taylor at short mid wicket as Tahir picked up his second scalp, 238 for 8.
Joe Leach looked comfortable against the leg spinner and added 35 for the ninth wicket with Ajmal. Ball returned with the new ball due four overs later and removed the Pakistani leg before for 19 . The tenth wicket partnership added 19 when Leach got a thin edge to Ball with his score on 40. Worcestershire 292 all out, a lead of 231. Jake Ball had returned figures of four for 67.
Notts had to just see off the new ball on the easing wicket. However disaster struck as off the fifth ball of the innings Charlie Morris Worcestershire's best bowler in the match removed Brendan Taylor leg before for 4. Hales was batting circumspectly but then chased one from Morris bowling from the Diglis End and edged to second slip to depart for 9, 33 for two. It got even worse when Mullaney got a leading edge to be caught at backward point by D'Oliveria off Leach for 24, 37 for three.
After a bit of a troublesome start James Taylor and Riki Wessels eschewed all risks and batting very sensibly to add an unbroken 120 in 38 overs in the evening sunshine. It was to Worcester's advantage when stumps came with Notts 157 for three with Wessels on 70 and Taylor on 49. Both had played the situation superbly. With heavy rain forecast all tomorrow morning batting conditions could be a lot harder once the players get back on. However if Notts do not win from this position they will have only themselves to blame. MAG Day 2
On an action packed day Worcestershire closed 54 ahead with 6 second innings wickets standing. Notts had a terrible pre lunch session in the warm Worcester sunshine, but were rescued by Mr Reliable - Chris Read.
Notts complete 5 wicket win
Notts won their tenth consecutive victory at Worcester today in front of sparse crowd mainly comprised of those of the Green and Gold variety..
After early morning rain, play was due to start on time, but a brief shower meant a five minute delay. Once the players emerged at 1105 only three balls were bowled when the rain arrived once more and players went back to the Graeme Hick Pavilion..
The players re-emerged at 1215 and in 45 minutes play only 29 runs were accumulated as James Taylor and Riki Wessels carried on their risk free strategy. Shantry was racking up the maidens but the two batsmen were in no real trouble.
The players re-emerged after lunch as the sun came out brightly. James Taylor so calm and collected suddenly had a rush of blood to his head as he skied a ball from Ajmal to Gidman at point. Taylor gone for 66 off 127 balls with five fours. The fourth wicket had added 157 in 52 overs. Patel hit a long hop from D’Oliveria over the hedge near the car park. But Wessels trying to match him went the same way as Titch this time the ball going to orbit and landing to Shantry at mid off, Ajmal bowling from the New Road End had two wickets. A real shame that Wessels missed out on a deserved ton but he left with 88 to his name off 190 balls with 11 fours. Notts still needed another 32.
Read joined Patel and the two of them saw Notts over the line at 1425 with an unbroken partnership of 34 with Read on 19 and Patel on 17. Read getting the winning runs with a boundary through backward point off Ajmal. Notts had got their first championship win at New Road since the famous 461 run chase in 2001. Shantry finished with figures of 19-13-23-0.
After 31 days away from Trent Bridge and covering countless miles criss-crossing England the players now take a deserved one weeks rest to recharge their batteries.MAG
Day 3
Titch and Wessels take Notts to the brink
On a sunny day at New Road Notts closed on 157 for 3 needing a further 75 runs with seven second innings wickets still standing.
On a wicket which is getting slower and lower Notts struggled for an early morning breakthrough. Jake Ball seemingly slightly down on pace was bowling somewhat within himself from the Diglis End. Then out of blue he Yorked Joe Clarke for a fine 61. The fifth wicket partnership with Ross Whiteley had added 68 runs in 17 overs.
Notts then got frustrated as a couple of very close leg before decisions were turned down by umpire Garratt off Imran. Notts were being held up by a stubborn partnership between Whiteley and keeper Ben Cox. Fifteen minutes before lunch Tahir bowling from the New Road End had Cox caught by Mullaney at slip for 34 an innings which contained six fours. Worcestershire 219 for 6.
Whiteley was playing a fine knock but three balls after lunch was bowled through the gate by Samit Patel for 78. The innings lasted 145 balls with 10 fours and one six. Shantry was all at sea against Tahir and perished to a catch by Brendan Taylor at short mid wicket as Tahir picked up his second scalp, 238 for 8.
Joe Leach looked comfortable against the leg spinner and added 35 for the ninth wicket with Ajmal. Ball returned with the new ball due four overs later and removed the Pakistani leg before for 19 . The tenth wicket partnership added 19 when Leach got a thin edge to Ball with his score on 40. Worcestershire 292 all out, a lead of 231. Jake Ball had returned figures of four for 67.
Notts had to just see off the new ball on the easing wicket. However disaster struck as off the fifth ball of the innings Charlie Morris Worcestershire's best bowler in the match removed Brendan Taylor leg before for 4. Hales was batting circumspectly but then chased one from Morris bowling from the Diglis End and edged to second slip to depart for 9, 33 for two. It got even worse when Mullaney got a leading edge to be caught at backward point by D'Oliveria off Leach for 24, 37 for three.
After a bit of a troublesome start James Taylor and Riki Wessels eschewed all risks and batting very sensibly to add an unbroken 120 in 38 overs in the evening sunshine. It was to Worcester's advantage when stumps came with Notts 157 for three with Wessels on 70 and Taylor on 49. Both had played the situation superbly. With heavy rain forecast all tomorrow morning batting conditions could be a lot harder once the players get back on. However if Notts do not win from this position they will have only themselves to blame. MAG Day 2
14 WICKETS FALL ON A SUNNY DAY 2
First to go was Brendan Taylor leg before to Leach for 31 off the twelfth ball of the day, 75 for one. Mullaney got going with three fours to third man and the second wicket partnership had added 45 runs in 10 overs when Charlie Morris had a magic spell from the New Road End. Mullaney was caught at slip for 21 by Tom Fell. Then in Morris' next over James Taylor trying to whip the ball to leg was bowled off stump for five. It got worse when Wessels was adjudged leg before for a duck two balls later. Notts now 126 for 4. Then there was unfortunate mishap when Hales going for a second run lost his footing and Patel half way down the pitch could not turn and run back quick enough and was run out without facing a ball, 128 for 5. Luck had deserted Notts.
Enter Chris Read the man for a crisis: with Hales as his partner Morris was seen off and the support bowling was not quite as menacing. But there is certainly something in a pitch which is showing increasing signs of unevenness as the match goes on. Read and Hales added 47 in 14 overs until just after lunch Hales shouldered arms to the human windmill that is Jack Shantry. Hales gone for 85 off 135 balls with 15 fours. He returned to the Pavilion cursing himself for missing a ton. Hutton who has made a seamless transition from the second to the first team, once again batted with great maturity and with his captain slowly chipped away at the Worcester lead. Read had a lucky escape when he was badly dropped at first slip by Alex Gidman when on 54 off Ross Whiteley. Hutton was on 40 when he got a thin edge to the former Derbyshire left armer. The seventh wicket had added 83 in 22 overs. Ball added extra impetus with a career best quick fire 38 off 25 balls with eight fours before the expensive Ajmal had him leg before. Tahir did not last long playing on to d'Oliveria for two. Finally Read's fantastic knock came to end when he was leg before to Shantry after three balls with the new ball. His innings was a typical backs to wall effort which included 12 fours and one six off 137 balls. Notts 330 all out, a lead of 61 runs. The wickets were shared around with Morris the pick of the attack with three for 48. Ajmal proved expensive with 14 overs one for 71.
Off the third ball of the Worcester innings Oliver chased a wide one from Jake Ball and was caught by Read for 4. Notts new ball bowling was much improved from their first innings effort and with the score on nine, Fell was Yorked for four. The two young guns d'Oliveira and Clarke added 35 for third wicket when d'Oliveira was leg before to Hutton for 19 to a ball that kept low. Mullaney replaced Hutton from the New Road End and was unlucky to have a few strong leg before shouts rejected but then bowled Gidman for 21, 78 for 4. Clarke and Whitely went for their shots and had added an unbroken 37 in 10 overs as Worcester closed on 115 for 4. Notts will be hoping that they take the remaining 6 Worcester wickets before lunch tomorrow. The odd ball is now keeping low and certainly against the new ball batting is not that easy. Tomorrow will be an interesting day. MAG
Day 1
Day 1
NOTTS BOWLERS SHARE THE SPOILS
Worcestershire without the injured Darryl Mitchell, were skippered by Alex Gidman who elected to bat on winning the toss. The wicket was dry and likely to spin more as the game goes on. Notts will looking for a first innings lead of 100 runs having to bat last.
Notts wasted the new ball this morning Ball and Hutton were too wayward but improved as the day went on. They did though take a wicket with the eighth ball of day when Oliver departed for 4 caught behind by Read, 11 for one.
The vacant third man area was a profitable area throughout the innings and was used heavily in the second wicket partnership of 48 between makeshift opener D'Oliveria and Fell. Gurney the best bowler on show today and bowling from the New Road End had D'Oliveira leg before for 18. Clarke lasted eight balls before falling leg before to Hutton for a duck, 60 for three.
The wicket had plenty of pace and carry and was a good cricket wicket. The wayward Ball returned to have Fell caught behind for 44. Gidman and Whiteley added 85 for the fifth wicket as Tahir was introduced from the Diglis End. Ball came back from the New Road End and had ex Derby man Whiteley smartly caught at third slip by Hutton for 34.
Cox was initially all at sea against Tahir but settled down to add 46 with his captain. Gidman got to 71 when he was controversially given caught behind off Tahir who celebrated the dismissal with his usual gusto. His innings lasted 126 balls with 11 fours. Leach had reached 13 when has well caught by Brendan Taylor at mid on off Hutton, 241 for seven. Worcester have a long tail and next to go was Shantry leg before to Tahir for 4. Cox after an uncertain start started to look a lot more composed but then had treatment to a head injury. He got to 56 when the champagne moment of day occurred as Mullaney like a leaping salmon took a brilliant catch to his right and above his head at second slip, Gurney picking up a deserved wicket. In his next over Gurney got Ajmal to play on as Worcester closed on 269 all out.
Gurney finished with three for 47 and deserved more, the steady Hutton picked up three wickets and Ball a bit wayward but decidedly brisk went 4.26 RPO but picked up two wickets. The feature of the day was Notts catching which was immaculate.
Hales and Brendan Taylor survived a testing opening by Morris and Leach but no chances were given. Worcester were dealt a blow when Cox had to go off with his head injury and was replaced behind the stumps by Joe Clarke. With the sun absent from mid afternoon the light slowly closed in and at 1808 with five overs still to go the umpires called time with Hales on 38 and Brendan Taylor on 29. Notts should aim to bat for the most of tomorrow before the wicket starts to deteriorate.MAG
Imran Tahir was awarded his county cap prior to play on the first morning.
Imran Tahir was awarded his county cap prior to play on the first morning.
Interesting call, no Luke Wood after his season with the red ball so far. Hard to believe???
ReplyDeleteFrom the pre-match hype from the red shirts it sounded like they were going to rest Jake Ball but obviously not.....
DeleteGoing fairly well at tea with the attack they have selected through.
Mick Newell confirmed that Imran Tahir will miss next 2 x RLODC and LVCC v Warks (h) during his brief trip home to play for South Africa.
ReplyDeleteAnother excellent result with the skipper finishing off the win with two fours to celebrate his 37th (according to cricinfo stats). Where would we be without him? How many years can he go on?
ReplyDeletebws
Chris S