v Durham Specsavers Trent Bridge

RAIN CAUSES ABANDONMENT

The weather was only winner at Trent Bridge as the rain came just before 1400 with Notts leading by 376 runs with 63 overs remaining. The highlight of the day was Brendan Taylor scoring his second ton of the match. 

Based on his fluent stroke play, particularly against spin he has probably played himself into the Twenty/20 line up.

Despite a stiff northerly wind and dank skies, play went uninterrupted throughout the morning with the floodlights on. Greg Smith (21) fell leg before to the sixth ball of the day bowled by Onions, the ball keeping low. The former England man broke down few overs later and his over was completed by Ryan Pringle. In the tenth over of the morning, Libby on 42 was caught in the gulley off Rushworth for 42, Notts 141 for three. Brendan Taylor looked in good form from the word go and gave the innings vital acceleration. Borthwick was deposited into the Fox Road stand on three occasions. Collingwood brought himself on. Unlike Taylor, Lumb could not impose himself against the spinners and the third wicket partnership had added 97 in 16 overs, when the left hander was caught and bowled by Borthwick low down for 52. Lumb had batted for 71 balls with four boundaries and one six off Ryan Pringle. Patel had ten minutes batting before lunch and got to nine and Taylor had raced to 82 off 68 balls. Notts stood on 257 for 4 off 60 overs at the break.

With the skies now very dark it was a mild surprise when play commenced after lunch. Play carried on for further 18 minutes before the rain arrived. Patel was caught behind off Borthwick for ten; the leg spinner picking up his eighth wicket of the match. With light rain falling Stoneman came on bowling his occasional twirlers, Taylor played him down to fine leg to reach his second ton of the match. Taylor was the first man to achieve this feat for Notts since Russell Warren at Lord’s in 2003 and the first since Tim Robinson in 1989 (versus Kent) to do so at Trent Bridge. At the end of the over umpires Cook and Garratt ordered the covers to come on with Taylor on 105 and Wessels on 7. Notts 289 for 5, Notts led by 376 runs. The players never returned with the game being called off 1530. Both teams take 12 points from the fixture. Taylor's 105 came off 81 balls with ten fours and five sixes (four off Borthwick and one off Collingwood). MAG

STALEMATE LOOMS AFTER BORTHWICK BOUNTY

Notts go into the last day of this fixture leading 191 runs with nine second innings wickets remaining. They will be looking to bat until lunch and set Durham a target. The weather forecast suggests a dank day with light rain possible in the afternoon. Notts though will be slightly disappointed with today's bowling effort as they erred slightly on line and length and bowled too many four balls. Durham's final total of 447 could on another days been considerably less.

On a cool cloudy morning Notts opened up with Jackson Bird from the Pavilion End and Harry Gurney from the Radcliffe Road End. Collingwood edged the ninth ball of the day bowled by Gurney to Mullaney at second slip who gobbled up the chance. The Durham captain departing for 40, 198 for five. Gurney and Bird had Borthwick and Pringle playing and missing and edging but both batsmen did not give a chance. Gurney in particular was though guilty of bowling too many four balls. It was very reminiscent of Pete Hacker circa 1977. Ball and Hutton came on and Borthwick got to his ton in 158 balls with 18 fours. The field placing started to get more defensive and the run rate slowed a tad. Pringle survived a very difficult caught and bowled chance when on 33, Jake Ball the bowler. The Welbeck Wizard got his revenge in his next over when Pringle inside edged him into Wessels gloves to depart for 34, 282 for six. The sixth wicket had added 84 runs in 22 overs. Patel came on a few overs before lunch. Durham got to the interval on 308 for six with Borthwick on 117 and Weighell on 17; it had been their morning.

Ten minutes after lunch Gurney hit Weighell on the pads and the strong arm of the law raised his finger. Weighell gone for 22, 316 for seven. Carse nursing a bruised foot came in with Jennings as his runner. The new ball was taken nine balls later. Bird and Gurney took the new ball, but the bowling was too wayward. The rested Fletcher with his metronomic accuracy has been sadly missed during this game. Patel and Hutton then replaced them. Carse hit Patel for huge six over mid wicket in the 14th over of the new ball. The ball was damaged on impact and was replaced. The eighth wicket had added 92 when Carse top edged Hutton and Wessels took the catch running towards fine leg. Carse gone for a 66 ball 47 including eight fours and one six. Durham 408 for eight. Chris Rushworth was caught behind for two off Hutton. With tea delayed as nine wickets were down Onions was comprehensively bowled by Gurney for four. Borthwick was left on a chanceless 188 off 279 balls with 28 fours and one six. He had played and missed quite often and also edged more than a few but without his innings the visitors would have been in trouble. A much underrated player. Durham 447 all out. Notts had a lead of 87 runs. Bird finished with four for 109 and Gurney three for 125. Jake Ball meanwhile had seemed to have lost some of rhythm during his spell on the sub’s bench with England. Notts could have bowled much better.

With tea taken between the innings Notts had 31 overs to face. In the late afternoon sunshine Notts had a good last session adding 104 for the loss of Steven Mullaney. The captain being out leg before to that man Borthwick for 43.Despite the efforts of the umpires to radio in the scoreboard lost its way, but the four “lost” runs were reinstated at the close. Jake Libby 33 not out and Greg Smith 21 not out. The Durham effort was very much set to cruise control with volume turned down to a bare minimum. It looked like they have already accepted the draw already. Never believe the forecasters! MAG

BIRD IS THE WORD AFTER WESSELS SHINES

Durham trail by 341 runs with 6 first innings standing on a day where Riki Wessels scored a fine 159 not out and Jackson Bird took four wickets. The pitch is generally easy paced but the odd ball is keeping low, so the match remains interestingly poised.

On a cool and cloudy morning Notts added a further 120 runs in 30 overs and for the second session of the match did not lose a wicket. Collingwood opened the bowling from the Pavilion End to allow Rushworth and Onions to switch ends. Run scoring was slow going and after a couple of unsuccessful shots and near misses Onions lost his rag with Hutton and threw the ball back at him in a fit of pique. The umpires conferred and then there was a confab between Collingwood and Cook, Onions was soon grazing in the outfield but not before he got to his personal ton off his bowling. Notts failed to obtain the last batting point standing at 389 for six after 110 overs. Weighell and Pringle came on but Wessels and Hutton could not be moved, Wessels finds Durham his favourite opposition and got to his ton in 156 balls. Borthwick came on just before lunch but the overnight pair had added 182 runs in 51 overs as Notts went to the break on 473 for 6 with Wessels on 122 and Hutton on 71.

Notts added a further 61 runs in 45 minutes after lunch as they were bowled out for 534. Scott Borthwick bowling from the Pavilion End finished with figures of 5 for 79; an analysis which flattered his overall performance going for 5.78 RPO. Hutton was out 10 minutes after lunch being caught by substitute Graham Clark on deep mid wicket boundary. Hutton out for a career best 74; two runs better than his effort against Middlesex in the bore draw at TB last season. The seventh wicket partnership had added 197 runs in 55 overs; 488 for seven. Ball hit Borthwick over his head for a six into the Pavilion but then was caught on the square leg ropes by Onions off Borthwick for 10, 500 for eight. Wessels reached his 150 off 198 balls and was now joined by Bird. The Australian hit a six over long off, Ryan Pringle being the bowler but was soon bowled by Borthwick for 11, 528 for none. Borthwick got his fifth wicket when a wild slog from Gurney saw him edge to Collingwood at first slip. Gurney added yet another duck to his career record. Wessels finished on 159 not out off 211 balls with 20 fours. Durham must hate the sight of him coming to the crease. Another Notts batsman finally finding his form. Another positive sign.

Durham got off to a rapid start in their reply as the sun finally appeared. Ball bowling from the Radcliffe Road End got Mark Stoneman to edge one through the slip cordon. Gurney was replaced by Bird who narrowly failed to get Stoneman caught at mid on the ball bouncing just short of the slow reacting Gurney. The left armer switched ends as he replaced Ball. Just before tea Jennings was smartly caught low down by Patel off Bird at short mid wicket for 26, Durham 72 for one in the 14th over. Borthwick joined Stoneman as Durham got to tea on 75 for one with Mark Stoneman on 39 not out.

The game exploded in first over after tea as Bird took two wickets in successive balls. First in an exact reprise of the Jennings dismissal Mark Stoneman was caught at short mid wicket by Patel for 39. Then wonder kid Jack Burnham was leg before for a golden duck. Gurney bowling a good spell from the Radcliffe Road was unlucky not to a pick up a wicket as Scott Borthwick lived in a bit of charmed life, but fortune favoured the brave. The fourth wicket partnership got to 46 when Bird bowling a long spell in the evening sunshine bowled Richardson (17), the ball keeping low. Mullaney was probably guilty of setting attacking fields for too long as Collingwood (38 not out) and Borthwick (59 not out) added a further 72 runs as Durham closed on 193 for four off 45 overs. The innings so far has included 27 boundaries. Bird bowling his most effective spell in Notts colours finished on four for 59. The first session tomorrow will go a long to determining how this game will shape up.MAG

BRENDAN TAYLOR TON LIGHTS NOTTS RECOVERY

After the disappointment of the Rose Bowl, Notts had a good day today recovering from 27 for three to finish on 353 for six on the first day against Durham. The stars of the day was Brendan Taylor and Samit Patel who added 168 runs for the fifth wicket.

On a sunny morning Durham declined the opportunity to put Notts in so having won the toss Notts elected to bat. Bird returned to line up along with Greg Smith. Out from what was the XII at Southampton went the rested Fletcher and the injured Read along with Christian.Wessels being the keeper. Read, I hear could be out for at least a month with his broken hand.

The wicket was pitched on the Fox Road side of the square and early doors, Mullaney was dropped at second slip by Borthwick off Onions whilst on a single. However the acting captain did not make the best use of his good fortune and played a dreadful pull shot off Rushworth and was well caught above his head by James Weighell for 2, 14 for one.  It got worse as fours over later as Libby on 19 shouldered arms to ball that jagged in from Chris Rushworth and lost his off peg, 27 for two. Shame this as up to this point the Cornishman had played in very composed manner. Next over Smith edged the accurate Onions to Collingwood at first slip to depart for five, 27 for three. Michael Lumb was joined by Brendan Taylor and they at least led a partial fight back. Rushworth from the Pavilion End and Onions from the Radcliffe Road bowled 16 overs on the bounce as Notts stood at 56 for three; the experienced pair having bowled very well.

Brydon Carse son of the former Northants Rhodesian born seamer James Carse, replaced Rushworth but was all over the place as his four overs cost.24 runs plus a few extras thrown in as keeper Richardson let a few byes through him as ball was sprayed all over. James Weighell with a bustling run up reminiscent of Martin Bicknell was generating plenty of pace and bounce from  the Radcliffe Road and got Lumb (22) to edge him to Borthwick at second slip. The fourth wicket had 66 in 16 overs. Rushworth replaced Carse but Notts got to lunch with no further alarms on 101 for four off 28 overs with Taylor 27 not out and Patel five not out.

Notts had a superb middle session as Taylor and Patel added 151 runs in 36 overs in the afternoon session. When Samit Patel reached his 50 he reached 10000 first class runs. Collingwood rotated his bowlers and turned to the two twirlers Borthwick and Pringle whose combined three overs cost 29 runs. Taylor tucking into them with a couple of reverse sweeps. Taylor also using his scoop shot to good effect got to his first championship ton at Trent Bridge off 145 balls. His celebration told everything about the struggles he has had in 2016. He has though over the last two weeks started to find his touch; all the hard work in the nets with Peter Moores finally bearing fruit. His last first class ton was his 152 at Taunton  in June last year. Notts got to tea on 252 for four with Taylor on 109 and Patel on 69.

Before and after tea Notts scoring rate had grounded to a halt as the canny Collingwood cut off run scoring options; 13 runs coming off 12 overs. Taylor having batted so well threw it away being caught on the deep midwicket boundary by Rushworth off the preserving Weighell. His 114 came off 189 balls with 18 fours. His return to form could not have been better timed, Notts 261 for 5. Borthwick returned from the Radcliffe Road End and a fine googly bowled Patel off stump for well made and patient 84. A pity this as the new ball was only five balls away, 291 for six.

Hutton survived a couple of confident leg before shouts off consecutive balls from Onions, PC Garrett giving the batsman the benefit of the doubt. However Hutton (33 not out) after initially struggling showed great maturity by adding an invaluable unbroken 62 with Wessels (46 not out). Notts had shown a lot of fight after a poor start against an experienced new ball bowlers. Durham in total used eight bowlers with youngster Weighell impressing bowling 23 overs two for 55. Young Carse bowled seven expensive overs before going off injured. A fine day’s cricket played throughout without a cold wind and without floodlights, summer has finally arrived. Notts decision to bat first on the easy paced wicket had been vindicated. MAG

Injury to Chris Read means that Notts will be led by Steven Mullaney for the game against Durham, starting on Saturday, yes Saturday not Sunday.

With Read out, Greg Smith gets a recall and Riki Wessels resumes wearing the keeper’s gloves. Also back are Jake Ball, from Team England, Jackson Bird, from whatever caused his absence at Southampton and Luke Wood, from injury incurred prior to the Yorkshire game.

The squad:

Steven Mullaney, Jake Ball, Jackson Bird, Luke Fletcher, Harry Gurney, Brett Hutton, Jake Libby, Michael Lumb, Samit Patel, Greg Smith, Brendan Taylor, Riki Wessels, Luke Wood.

With only Samit Patel showing any useful consistency with the bat in 2016, pressure will be heavily on the bowlers to keep runs down, but with Durham on a high following  their Edgbaston win this week, Notts will have their work cut out to stem the haemorrhaging  confidence and to bag a meaningful amount of points from this fixture.

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