v Surrey at Trent Brent Bridge, Specsavers

Nerve Shredding Win for Notts 

After an enthralling day's cricket Notts scraped home by three wickets against a gallant Surrey side. The weather was much warmer than the previous three days as the crowd could take their coats off for the first time and soak up the sun.

Early doors, Notts could not make inroads with the old ball and even tried an over from Samit Patel. The new ball was taken immediately and in the fourth over with the new cherry Ball had Sam Curran leg before for 28; the sixth wicket had added 53 runs. Five overs later Bird bowling from the Pavilion End had Harinath edging to Read who parried the ball at full stretch to Wessels who took the catch. Harinath lucky to survive a close run out decision the day before had made 137 off 270 balls with 18 fours and one six, 353 for seven. A fine effort. Notts were now through to the tail. Ball looked threatening with the new ball and had Batty leg before for six. Harry Gurney replaced Bird from the Pavilion End and Tom Curran was adjudged leg before by Grim Tim; the batsman was clearly upset by the decision. Footitt should have been caught by Harry Gurney at mid off, but he was slow to react and the tenth wicket added 23 runs. Five minutes before the scheduled lunch break, Footitt (5) mistimed Hutton as Brendan Taylor took the catch in the covers. Surrey 389 all out with Rampaul 13 not out. Ball impressive throughout had figures of five for 98 off 23 overs.

Notts needed a target of 169, memories of Aigburth 2014 flooded through the mind, Notts chasing a similar target getting home via a Harry Gurney cover drive.

Mullaney and Smith made excellent progress putting away the bad balls as they added 72 in 14 overs. Seasoned Notts followers was expecting a wobble and they were not disappointed, Mullaney (42) fell leg before to Rampaul who was bowling much better than in the first innings. Mullaney had scored at run a ball and hit seven fours and one six off Rampaul. Enter the out of form pair Lumb and Brendan Taylor. The impressive Tom Curran bowling from the Pavilion End removed them both. First Lumb (2) edged to Foakes and then four balls later Curran got one to pop up as Taylor edged to Roy at second slip for a duck, 85 for three. Wessels for once failed as he caught behind off Tom Curran for a 4-ball blob, 91 for four. Next over, Patel chased a wide one from Rampaul to be caught at first slip by Kumar Sangakkara for 6, 100 for five and with Bird and Gurney at ten and jack. Notts were in a spot trouble. Enter the man for crisis Chris Read who joined the steady Smith who had now past his championship best for Notts. Thirty six runs were added in 14 overs as Notts got back on an even keel. Read scampered a couple of twos with 33 now required, he then played across the line against Rampaul who rapped the captain on the pads. The Clipstone Clipper rose the finger, Read gone for 22. Smith had played a chanceless innings and looked to put Notts over the line. Unfortunately Curran got his fourth wicket as Smith edged to Foakes for 54 off 103 balls with seven fours, a confidence building innings against the same opposition he made 124 in the semi last year. Seventeen now required. Captain Batty neither bowled himself or Sam Curran so he was rotating three bowlers in the afternoon heat. Four singles were obtained from the next five balls of Curran’s over as Hutton and Ball was ticking off the target. Footitt returned from the Radcliffe Road, Hutton ran a two and then horror of horrors a short ball from Footitt went over Foakes head, four byes, Hutton turned down an easy single. Notts now needed seven.

The second ball from the next over saw Ball get a single and then Hutton did the same next ball, Ball then got two and then tried to smack the remaining two balls but failed.

Three runs required now. Two dot balls followed from Footitt and the next ball was very wide of off stump, the whole ground shouted “WIDE!”, as Millns stretched out his arms. Hutton then got a single. Ball then hit the next ball through backward cover for four as Notts got home to huge cheers. Hutton as he had at Liverpool last year showed he could get runs under pressure to finish on 14 and Ball was undefeated on nine.

After all the off the pitch distractions Notts win was well merited even if the members nerves were frayed for the last two and a half hours. Notts took a maximum 24 points and Surrey a paltry four. Notts can take heart from a fine bowling performance throughout by Ball and an excellent first innings bowling effort. The batting looks more of a concern but with Hales still absent in Manchester I expect unchanged batting line up. Stuart Broad will play at Old Trafford and maybe Luke Wood, two bowlers may have to unluckily make way.

Off field events overshadow the day's proceedings

James Taylor's shock retirement due to his heart condition and the death yesterday of former first team scorer and lifelong Notts fan BrIan Hewes cast a huge shadow over today's play as the flags were at half mast in Brian's honour. A class innings from Kumar Sangakkara and an undefeated ton from Arun Harinath ensured that this match could go any of three ways tomorrow as Surrey lead by 76 with five second wickets remaining.

After overnight rain and a dank drizzly morning play did not commence until 1400 with 29 overs lost. Jake Ball got Rory Burns leg before for 17 in the second over of the day. This wicket however proved a false dawn as it soon became apparent that batting conditions had eased compared to the first two days. Sangakkara in particular looked in fine form continuing where he left off at The Oval last September. Harinath was providing good support as Surrey were scoring at four an over. Sangakkara was dropped on 62 off Ball, a difficult catch to Read behind the stumps. Patel proved expensive coming on just before tea as four overs went for 29 runs. A demoralising session for Notts as Surrey reached tea on 163 for one with Sangakkara on 83 and Harinath on 53.

The game changed once more as in the second over after tea Sangakkara edged Ball into Read's gloves to depart for 83. An innings which contained a six off Patel and 13 fours off just 102 balls. Three balls later Ball getting more lift than the rest of Notts attack had Steven Davies out in identikit fashion. As the evening sunshine started to appear, Harinath and Jason Roy decided attack was the best form of defence and had added 66 in 11 overs when Brett Hutton bowling from the Radcliffe Road End got a ball to move and keep low as Roy was leg before for 37, 233 for four.  Unfortunately unlike the first innings Notts' bowling was too loose bowling; at least one four ball an over was on offer. At 1800 Harinath got to his ton off 182 balls with a three to fine leg off Patel. The innings was chanceless although particularly early doors involved quite a lot of playing and missing. He also survived a close run out decision following a direct hit by Greg Smith.

Harinath and Ben Foakes added 55 in 15 overs for the fifth wicket before Foakes hit the ball straight back to Samit with 26 to his name, 288 for five. A very welcome wicket. Harinath was still there at the end on 114 off 221 balls with fifteen fours and one six; Sam Curran is yet to get off the mark. Surrey 297 for five off just 73 overs. The new ball is seven overs away and Notts will be aiming to take the remaining five wickets in the morning session tomorrow. Ball was the pick of the Notts attack with three for 77, but there was too much loose stuff from all the bowlers. How much the Notts team were affected by today’s events is open to conjecture, but they will be keen to win the match for Titch.

Taylor’s retirement is so sad, he was the most determined cricketer Notts have had in a generation what he lacked in pure class was more than made up by the sheer hard work he put into his game. He crammed in a lot in his cricketing career in such short timeframe, he is only 26. Notts highlights included his 291 at Horsham, a rapid undefeated ton at Lord’s, a marvellous catch to win a game at New Road and his trademark scampering between the wickets.

Brian Hewes 1935-2016 RIP.

MAG



Bad Lights Halts Notts Charge

Another fine day for Notts as they bowled out Surrey for 225 and led by 207 as Surrey stood at 14 for 0 following on in a day disrupted by bad light. 

Unlike the first day the sun was rarely seen and the day got increasingly dank and chilly.

It was very much Notts' morning with the ball as all the bowlers got bounce and movement. Openers Burns and Harinath rode their luck with plenty of playing and missing. In the sixth over of the morning Bird got his maiden Notts scalp as Rory Burns (8) edged him into Read's gloves, 21 for one. Six overs later the other left handed opener Harinath edged Bird to Wessels at first slip to depart for 23, 42 for two. Sangakkara and Davies added 29 runs in seven overs before Gurney who had replaced the unlucky Ball from the Radcliffe Road End had Davies well caught by Wessels at first slip for 8. Sangakkara looked in good touch but was dropped in the gulley by Greg Smith on 27, Gurney the unlucky bowler. Hutton bowling from the Pavilion End then got the key wicket as Sangakkara edging him to Mullaney at second slip. The Sri Lankan had made 32 off 66 balls with four fours. Roy was then dropped in the gulley by Smith off Gurney when on 4 and survived to lunch on 16 with Ben Foakes undefeated on 8 as Surrey went to the break on 106 for 4 off 31 overs.

In the sixth over after lunch Ball, bowling from the Radcliffe Road, had Roy leg before for 28; Grim Tim raising the finger. Roy hit all all his runs in boundaries hitting seven fours. In the 46th over Foakes on 38 had three lives. Firstly he survived a confident caught behind appeal from Hutton, then next ball he was struck on the pad and once again Millns declined the appeal. Then off the last ball of the over he played the ball to the covers and went for the single. Non striker Sam Curran sent him back and he just made his ground. His luck ran out next over as Gurney had him caught behind for 38.the sixth wicket had added 39 in 12 overs. It got better in the next over as a brilliant yorker from Hutton demolished Sam Curran's stumps as he left with 20 to his name, 174 for seven. Tom Curran was dropped at wide mid on by Gurney off Hutton, a difficult one above his head. Patel came on just before tea and off the last ball of second over he had Batty caught at short mid wicket by Smith for 15, the seventh wicket had added 47. The players came off for the bad light three balls before tea was due to be taken at 16:03 with Surrey 222 for eight. The players returned at 1625 and Bird bowled a further two balls with no addition to the score as players trooped off once more with the floodlights on full beam. Tom Curran was undefeated on 32 and Rampaul was yet to score.

Play resumed at 1705 and off the first ball of the resumption Rampaul was plumb leg before to Bird. Tom Curran got three off Patel's next over. Bird then removed him leg before for 35 as he finished with two wickets in successive balls. Bird had figures of four for 56 on his debut. It was very much a team effort though from the Notts attack who all bowled well. Gurney had figures of two for 43 and Hutton two for 51 and Ball deserved more than his solitary wicket.

Notts enforced the follow on with light still poor. Surrey batted for six overs and despite surviving a couple of good leg before shots advanced to 14 for nought when the players were taken off for bad light for the last time at 1741. Rain started falling and temperatures dived afterwards. Twenty two overs were lost in the day. MAG
An Entertaining First Day to the New Championship Season

After an entertaining first day's play Surrey closed on seven without loss in reply to Notts 446 all out. The highlight of the day being Stephen Mullaney's 113.

Surrey elected to put Notts into bat under the new championship regulations for 2016. The pitch played well throughout but Surrey obviously thought they could exploit the green patches within the pitch.

Notts batting was under strength with Hales resting after his winter exploits and James Taylor being ill. Luke Wood was unlucky not to make to make the final eleven with Notts deciding to have Greg Smith opening with Mullaney. Surrey meanwhile had Jason Roy in their line up with former West Indian international Rampaul and Footitt making their Brown Cap Championship debuts.

The whole of the morning session was played in glorious sunshine in front of a good sized crowd. The temperature though never got above 11 degrees Celsius all day.

Mullaney drove Tom Curran opening ball through extra cover for four and he was in fine form throughout the morning. Footitt bowling from the Radcliffe Road End was struggling with his line on his Surrey championship debut. Smith lasted half an hour before edging Tom Curran to Sangakkara at first slip to depart for nine, 43 for one in the seventh over.

Mullaney was in good touch and raced to his 50 in just 49 balls. Footitt switched ends and now more effective he removed Lumb leg before to a full pitched ball. The left hander gone for24 in innings made off 39 balls with three fours, 91 for two. Brendan Taylor coming in at four looked uncertain early on but got to lunch undefeated on 6. Mullaney meanwhile got to the break on 71 as Notts stood on 119 for two.

The sun disappeared after lunch as clouds came over; Taylor played one of his trademark “up-periscope shots” to get a four over the slips heads and got to 20 before edging to Sangakkara at first slip as Tom Curran picked up his second wicket. The third wicket partnership had added 56 in 16 overs. Mullaney was playing his best innings for Notts and reached a chanceless ton off 102 balls with seventeen fours. Wessels carried on his form from Fenners as Notts continued to score at rapid rate. Much to everyone's surprise the erratic Ravi Rampaul got Mullaney caught behind for 113. The superb innings came off 114 balls with 18 fours, Notts 201 for four in the 44th over. Mullaney's innings was possibly his best ever for Notts and was chanceless despite edging twice through the slips early doors.

Patel carried on the run scoring momentum with Wessels including a bizarre six over fine leg off the rapid but erratic Mark Footitt. Wessels looked odds on to become the second man to get a ton but then played a poor shot to be caught behind by Foakes as Rampaul picked his second wicket. Wessels hit fourteen fours and one six (a pulled effort off Rampaul into the Fox Road) in his 83 ball 81. The fifth wicket had added 107 in 19 overs, 308 for five. Batty finally introduced himself seven overs before tea which was taken 33 minutes late with Notts 315 for five with Patel on 38 and Read on 5.

With 16 overs remaining before the new ball was due Notts continued to score at five an over as the temperature started to dip. Surrey took the new ball straight way as Notts got to maximum points but after Patel gave his wicket away chipping a ball from Tom Curran to his younger brother Sam at deep backward square leg. Patel gone for 85, 401 for six. Hutton (0) shouldered arms to his third ball from Footitt bowling from the Radcliffe Road. Ball went for his shots and got to 21 before being bowled by Rampaul for 21. Jackson Bird (2) who would be number eleven in most line ups lasted eight balls before edging Rampaul to Burns to slip. Gurney was bowled first ball as Rampaul picked up five wickets despite an indifferent performance. Read meanwhile had reached an untroubled unbeaten 63 with 11 fours and one six. Notts 446 all out off 91.4 overs. The ball had moved around in the morning session and once again with the new ball but the wicket had played well and the outfield was fast for the time of year. Tom Curran (3 for 98) was the best power on show but all the seamers went at over four an over. Rampaul had figures of five for 93 and Footitt on his TB return two for 98 off 19 overs. Surrey's bowling performance was not of a high calibre with their line awry and Rampaul gave away seven no balls. Their fielding performance contained no blemishes.

Surrey had two overs to bat but Burns and Harinath safety negotiated an over apiece from Ball (Radcliffe) and Bird (Pavilion). MAG

Mullaney
Taylor B
Smith G
Wessels
Lumb
Patel
Read (capt)
Bird
Hutton
Ball
Gurney

Surrey Brown Stars have announced the following squad:

Batty(capt),

Burns,

S.Curran,

T.Curran,

Davies,

Dunn,

Foakes, 

Footitt,

Harinath,

Rampaul,

Roy, 

Sangakkara,

Wilson

Unlike Alex Hales, Jason Roy doesn't require a rest it seems.