v Durham LV Championship at Trent Bridge

Day 3
HUTTON 10, READ 1 000, NOTTS WIN




Notts gained a completely unexpected third day triumph as Durham, chasing what appeared to be a routine 215 to victory, were bowled for 162. 52 runs short of their target. The star of the show was Brett Hutton who followed up his five wickets in the first innings with another nap hand taking five for 29 to finish with match figures of 10 for 106. Notts' young and energetic team had once again won against the odds and now stand a good chance of getting the runners up spot. Something only a mad man would have predicted at the end of June.

Notts had an excellent morning session adding 124 runs for the loss of one wicket. Durham rotated their bowling to no avail but surprisingly did not turn to either their captain or to Borthwick's leg spinners. Wessels and Patel had batted very responsibly with Wessels being more the aggressive of the two. At 1215 with the fifth wicket partnership worth 153, Wessels edged McCarthy bowling from the Pavilion End to Collingwood at first slip. Wessels a prolific scorer against the North Easterners had made 85 off 98 balls with 11 fours and one six. Notts survived the remaining 17 balls to lunch as they went to the interval on 262 for five off 73 overs with Patel 60 not out and Read 9 not out. Notts led by 94 runs.

The afternoon session saw Notts add a further 120 runs to reach 372 all out. Durham opened the session with Borthwick and Pringle awaiting the taking of the new cherry. Read normally so good in these situations threw his wicket away sweeping a ball from Pringle straight down deep square legs throat, Read gone for 15, Notts 278 for 6. The new ball was taken three overs later. Patel got to a deserved and what turned about a match winning ton in 154 balls, he had batted with great patience. Unfortunately the Jekyll/Hyde side of Patel resurfaced when off the very next ball he chipped a ball from Rushworth straight down Onions throat at long leg, his innings contained 12 fours and one six, 309 for seven. Hutton and Wood the finds of the season carried on the good work of Wessels and Patel by adding a further 53 runs. Hutton then lost his off stump to Ryan Pringle; he had compiled a patient 27 off 64 balls. Ball (6) thrashed a boundary, but going for another slog lost his off stump to Pringle. Six runs later Luke Wood skied Borthwick (who only had bowled 31 balls) to Collingwood at first slip. Wood gone for 35, but the number nine had scored 100 runs in the match. Notts 382 all out off 101.1 overs with Onions and Pringle both getting three wickets.


The sun continued to shine on another marvelous September day as Durham had 38 overs left to bat; Tea once again being taken between the innings. Stoneman took a single off the first ball bowled by Jake Ball from the Pavilion End but off the next ball Burnham appeared to be all at sea as he shouldered arms and lost his off stump to leave with a golden blob.


The two left handers Stoneman and Borthwick looked in little trouble hitting the wayward Wood and Ball for 57 in nine overs as Durham appeared to be looking for a three day victory. Luke Wood had bowled four overs for 25 and was replaced at the Radcliffe Road End by Harry Gurney and suddenly out of the blue the match turned. Gurney produced an absolute blinder to remove Borthwick’s leg stump for 25 and then three balls later he repeated the trick by this time removing Stoneman’s middle stump for 31, 59 for three. Durham having a long tail were now rocking and the match was at a crossroads as Richardson having good match with bat and gloves, edged another brute from Gurney over third slips head. But his innings was short-lived as Hutton yorked him, as his middle stump did cartwheels, Durham 64 for four. The good sized crowd were now getting animated. Collingwood got to 10,000 runs for Durham and then three balls later he edged a lifter from Hutton into the safe hands of Chris Read who had snagged his 1,000 first class victim, as the crowd all stood up and applauded. What a day it was turning out to be, Durham had lost four wickets for 11 runs in 34 balls!





It got even better next over as Pringle was palpably leg before for a seven ball duck as Hutton now had figures of three for eight off five overs, 71 for 6. Muchall a heavy scorer against Notts in the past, decided attack was the best form of defence and hit seven boundaries. The tiring Hutton and Gurney were replaced by Ball and Patel respectively. With his second ball of his return Ball got Harrison (5) to edge to Wessels at first slip. The seventh wicket had added 34 in eight overs. Muchall got to 38 and received a fast straight one from Ball that kept low; the Clipstone Clipper David Millns raised the finger Muchall leg before, 136 for eight. Irishman Barry McCarthy looked a good bat and in partnership with Rushworth 22 runs were added. Off the fourth ball of extra half hour, Rushworth (10) became the first and only Durham batsman to throw his wicket away being caught low down at mid off by Michael Lumb off man of the moment Hutton. Only Bunny left now and Mr Onions lasted seven balls as he lost his off stump to the ecstatic Hutton as Durham were all out for 162 with 34 balls of extra time remaining to scenes of great jubiliation. Young McCarthy was left stranded on an excellent 38 including a six off Hutton over long leg off his third ball. Just like the Sussex and Worcester wins earlier this season, Notts had defied all expectation to win and break their September hoodoo. Andy Pick’s influence on Messrs Ball, Wood and Hutton is so clear to see. Hutton bowled like a veteran today and his ten wicket match haul was richly deserved. It was Read though who led the team off the pitch to a guard of honour from all the players and support staff. Notts now lie third in the championship table with a game in hand on second place Middlesex. Next stop Edgbaston on Monday. MAG
Day 2

RICHARDSON AND ONIONS DOMINATE FOR DURHAM ON DAY 2

As Brett Hutton takes his maiden 5-fer for Notts

Durham are well placed for a three day victory as Notts closed on 138 for 4, trailing by 30 runs after sunny and eventful day at Trent Bridge.

Notts had a mixed morning session as Durham accrued 114 runs and lost three wickets in the process. After 14 runs had been added Borthwick played onto a full pitched ball from Luke Wood to depart for 63, 188 for three. Thirty six runs had been gathered for the fourth wicket when Brigadier Block shouldered arms to Brett Hutton and was bowled for 40. Collingwood was six runs short of 10000 runs for Durham.

Notts were guilty of the bowling too short too often as Richardson and Muchall added 57 for the fifth wicket. Patel having bowled two overs from the Pavilion End switch ends and Muchall (32) was cursing himself as he hit the slow armer to mid on where Lumb took a good tumbling catch. Durham added a further seven runs as they went to lunch on 288 for five with Richardson on 49 and Pringle yet to score.

Things improved after lunch after Hutton came up with a fine spell from the Pavilion End. Ryan Pringle was caught at slip by Wessels off the burly right armer for 19, four overs before the new ball was due. In his next over a well pitched up ball saw the removal of Harrison for a 5-ball duck. Notts took the new ball straight away. With the tenth ball of new ball, Wood got one to swing in and McCarthy on his first class debut was bowled neck and crop for 2, 343 for eight. Richardson was hogging most of the strike as he neared his ton. The ninth wicket partnership got to 25 before Hutton bagged his fourth wicket as Rushworth (14) edged to Wessels at first slip. Richardson was on 96 and desperate slog against Wood; only succeeded hitting the toe end of his bat as it rolled back up the pitch. Two balls into the next over from Hutton, Read got his 999^th victim as Onions edged Hutton without troubling the scorers. Durham 372 all out with Michael Richardson stranded four runs short of his ton, an innings which contained 15 fours off 138balls. Hutton finished with a career best of five for 77 as Durham led by 198 runs.

Notts had a deficit of 168 runs on first innings and batted out the remaining 12 overs until tea to go to the interval on 30 for 0.

Having made relatively untroubled progress it was a surprise when Brendan Taylor was comprehensively bowled by left armer Jamie Harrison for 33, Notts 53 for one. Onions having a superb match replaced Harrison from the Radcliffe Road End and demolished Mullaney's stumps for 11, 69 for two.

Libby had impressed during his 34 overs playing every ball on its merits. Unfortunately Onions got one to lift and move and Libby fended him to Borthwick in the slips to depart for 34 made off 98 balls with five fours. Lumb played a dreadful pull shot off Onions as ball dollied to Rushworth at long leg. Lumb gone for 14 and Notts 99 for four with nine overs left of the day. All four wickets had been taken from the Radcliffe Road. Lumb and Brendan Taylor both woefully out of touch will presumably now make way for the returning Titch and Hales at Edgbaston next Monday. Patel (21*) and Wessels (16*) saw Notts safely to close on a decidedly rocky 138 for four.

Notts have been outplayed so far in this match that is following a familiar September pattern... Notts championship record in the previous six September’s being played 17 won 1 drawn 6 lost 10, a quite woeful sequence of results.

On a more positive note congratulations to the seconds who won the championship at Radlett this morning by defeating Middlesex by four wickets. A reward for the hard work put in by Paul Franks and the team in 2015. Congratulations!

Day 1

HANGDOG NOTTS OUT OF THE HUNT ON DAY 1

An abysmal day for Notts as a poor bowling performance followed a mediocre effort with the bat meant that Durham closed with only a 30 run deficit with eight wickets still standing.

On a cloudy morning Durham won the toss ànd inserted Notts. Jake Libby after his prolific form for the seconds made his seasonal debut. Michael Lumb completely out of nick was lucky to get his place ahead of Oval hero Greg Smith.

With ideal bowling conditions Rushworth and Onions were licking their lips. After Brendan Taylor had taken a single Libby fell to his second ball for a duck edging Rushworth to third slip. Off the last ball of the second over Brendan Taylor was turned round by an excellent ball from Onions and he edged to Burnham at backward point who took a good catch low down, 1 for 2. Lumb (1) did not last long and edged to Richardson as Onions bowling from the Radcliffe Road End picked up his second wicket, seven for three.

Wessels joined Mullaney and 29 were added in 11 overs before Wessels edged a brisk delivery from debutant Irishman Barry McCarthy into Richardson's gloves. Wessels gone for 13, 36 for 4. Rushworth changed ends and replaced Onions and seemed lucky to get positive response to a caught behind appeal to umpire Millns as Patel was adjudged caught behind for a single. Notts 37 for 5 and in total disarray.

Read always the man for a crisis got to 19 before edging left armer Jamie Harrison to Richardson behind the wicket. The ball had been swinging all over the place in the cloudy conditions as Notts limped to lunch on 73 for 6.

Things got no better as the third ball after lunch saw the downfall of Hutton plumb leg before to Onions for a single, 73 for seven.

Mullaney and Luke Wood saved some blushes by adding 92 in 19 overs as conditions eased in the afternoon. McCarthy returned and had Mullaney leg before for a fine backs-to -wall 63. An innings off 140 balls with nine fours. Jake Ball came in and saw Notts to a solitary batting point before being bowled by one that kept low by Onions to depart for a 13-ball 15. The walking wicket that is Harry Gurney lasted three balls before being comprehensively bowled for a duck as Onions picked his fifth wicket. Luke Wood had batted superbly to reach 65 not out off 91 balls with 10 fours and one six. Notts 204 all out. Durham had exploited the conditions as Onions finished with five for 56 and Rushworth had bowled 16 overs, two for 15. Tea was taken between the innings.


The sun came out as Durham started their reply and Ball and Wood bowled poorly as Durham got off to a rapid start. In the 16th over, 18 year old right hander Jack Burnham was run out being sent back going for a single to depart for 31, Wood throwing the stumps down. The opening partnership worth 78 runs. The players went off for bad light at 1720, and when they returned 23 minutes later Mark Stoneman (62) was caught at slip by Mullaney by Jake Ball bowling from Radcliffe Road. Durham 131 for two. The body language in the field suggested that Notts were not fully focused on the task on what was now an easy batting surface. When stumps were drawn with 23 balls unused due to bad light. Durham were on 174 for two with Borthwick on 56 and Collingwood on 16. Durham are well and truly in the ascendancy in the match. The pick of the bowlers was Gurney had got pace and bounce in his eight overs. The rest I am afraid was not good.

The lunchtime members forum was in bit of damp squab, it got bogged down by discussing the new plans for cricket. It appears that as yet there are no hard proposals but also more worryingly the ECB panel of 14 which only contains 4 county chairman could theoretically vote for a anything in a fortnight; but my guess is any major changes will now not happen until 2017. Please though sign the petition to try and maintain the 16 game championship program using the following link http://www.change.org/p/england-and-wales-cricket-board-to-maintain-a-16-match-county-championship.

Mick Newell revealed he had no idea why Broad junior did not bowl his 10 overs down at the Oval, that was the captain’s call. Peter Moores position would be discussed with the cricket committee at the end of the season. Jake Ball and Brett Hutton’s excellent seasons have been rewarded with 3 and 2 year contracts respectively. He is looking for an overseas bowler for 2016, but is subject to not having any major revamps to 2016 playing programme. He also suggested he would be pleased with a top four position in the championship this season. Based on today’s hangdog efforts in the field this is far from certain. Let’s hope for a much better day tomorrow. MAG