v Middlesex Specsavers at Lord's

RAIN DRAIN


Despite the Lord's outfield having the best drainage in the country, rain didn't allow any opportunity for play on day four.

Notts have now been displaced from top spot, as Lancashire have thrumped Hampshire by an innings  and 94 runs at Old Trafford. No Hampshire player made a 50 in the match.

Lancashire were later leapfrogged by Roses rivals, Yorkshire after they beat Surrey at Headingley by an innings and 20 runs.

So this season only three teams have won games, Lancashire (2), Yorkshire and Notts. With the boot on the other foot, only Surrey (2), Hampshire and Notts have lost games.

No play on Day 3 due to rain

This game seems to heading for a draw with Middlesex 151 runs behind with seven first innings wicket left. Tomorrow's forecast is poor and on a bland wicket Middlesex should be happy to chase another four batting bonus points.

Today's was played throughout with the sound of drills and hammers as workman on the Warner Stand development were busily at work trying to make up for lost time.

The morning session played in warm sunshine, was eventful producing 70 runs for six wickets. Notts managed to lose their last three wickets for nine runs in four overs. Off the tenth ball of the day Patel having batted so well the previous night threw it all away. A trademark flick off his legs off Roland-Jones only succeeded in finding Malan on the square leg ropes. It was a second time in a week that Patel had failed to add to his overnight score. Ball saw Notts through to the fourth batting point by hitting a four through backward point but then perished clean bowled by Murtagh. Hutton desperately trying to keep Gurney off strike left him one ball of Roland-Jones to face but unfortunately he was comprehensively bowled for a blob. Notts 354 all out. Roland-Jones five for 61 off 22 overs.

Middlesex got off to a steady start against Ball (Pavilion) and Broad (Nursery). Broad bowled Gubbins in his fifth over for 11, 40 for one.. Read put in short mid on and short mid off for Compton. Ball having bowled seven overs was replaced by Hutton and with third ball and Compton leg before for 2, 49 for two. There was controversy next ball as Read held onto legside catch, the ball may have come off Malan pads. Malan scorer of 182 not out at TB last season out for a golden blob. Simpson joined Robson as Gurney was replaced by Broad. Middlesex got to lunch on 61 for three with the untroubled Robson on 34 and Simpson on five. Hutton had two for 10 off 4 overs.

Gurney and Hutton were kept on after lunch but could not make future inroads. Patel came on from the Nursery End and Simpson hit him over his head and broke a window of the middle tier of the Pavilion. The ball was damaged on impact and there was a five minute stoppage as a replacement was found. Patel's five over spell proved expensive and went for 30 and so he was replaced by Mullaney. Ball came on from the Pavilion End and he is turn was replaced by Broad. No matter which bowler Read turned to a breakthrough could not be made the pitch was getting slower and lower and with the old ball the Notts attack appeared impotent. Defensive field placings were now in place. Robson and Simpson heavy scorers against Notts in the past went to tea on 93 and 60 respectively with Middlesex 176 for three. 115 runs had been added in 37 overs.

Twenty six balls were bowled after tea but the light was deteriorating and with the floodlights not used for championship games at Lord's the umpires took the players off at 1644 with Middlesex 203 for three. Robson had reached his ton off 194 was unbeaten on 114 and Robson on 66. Unforecasted heavy rain arrived shortly after and the was game called off for the day at 1740 with 27.4 overs lost in the day. MAG






Honours were even on the first day at Lord's as Notts closed on 345 for seven.

 The wicket was on the Tavern Stand of the square, The Warner Stand has been demolished and its replacement is slowly taking shape. Building work has been hampered by delays due to asbestos being found. 

Notts won the toss and elected to bat on the hottest day of year so far. An excellent crowd was in attendance, Bird who has taken seven championship wickets at 41 apiece was replaced by Brett Hutton. Middlesex were without the rested James Harris.

In the opening over of the day bowled by Tim Murtagh, Mullaney got a four off the fourth ball but then was leg before to the next ball. Finn bowled only four overs and was replaced by Toby Roland-Jones. Hales was batting circumspectly and added 61 with Greg Smith whose innings was somewhat scratchy. Smith given a good working out by ToRoJo; edged him to Rayner at second slip. Lumb batted positively from the start of his innings as Notts got to 115 for two off 30 overs at lunch with Hales on 46 and Lumb on 31. The left hander twice tucking into wide legside balls from captain and former Notts man James Franklin.

Middlesex had the better of the afternoon session taking three wickets as Notts added 94 runs.. Notts got off to a positive start 15 coming off one over from Rayner bowling from Nursery End, Hales hitting two fours and a six. The third wicket had added 107 runs off 24 overs when Roland-Jones bowling from the Pavilion End took two wickets in an over. Hales was bowled for 73 made off 124 balls with 10 fours and one six. Wessels followed five balls later leg before for a duck, umpire Billy Taylor taking a long while before raising the finger. Lumb had batted well but got bogged down by Rayner and fell leg before to the spinner for 78. He had batted for 124 balls hitting nine fours and one six over long on off Rayner.

Notts limped to tea on 209 for 5 with Patel on 20 and Read yet to get off the mark.

Notts fought back in the post tea session, Roland-Jones returned and Read on 6 was lucky to survive an edge that went straight between keeper Simpson and first slip Franklin and  went for four. Play was then halted for several minutes as the ball was lost in the empty Grandstand after Patel lifted Rayner for six over deep square leg. Read and Patel were taking advantage of a wilting attack bowling with an old ball. It was a different game once the second new ball was taken however.

 Finn who had been expensive throughout the day got one to lift a bit more and Read edged to Compton in the gulley. The captain gone for 38 with six fours. The sixth wicket had added 71 runs in 21 overs. In Finn's next over Broad (7) edged to Compton at third slip, 291 for seven. Patel and Hutton batted well ensuring that no more wickets were lost as Notts closed on 345 for seven off 96 overs. Patel's whose straight driving was particularly impressive carried on his good work with the bat from the Yorkshire game and was 86 not out at close and Hutton so unlucky to br dropped from the line up was on 23. Patel has faced 131 balls with nine fours and two sixes. Notts had put together a number of partnerships on relatively easy batting wicket. It was a day of unrelenting sunshine and with the weather set to deteriorate Notts probably had the best batting conditions of the match. They will be hoping to add a further 50 runs tomorrow. Roland-Jones was the pick of the home attack with three for 57. MAG



Heading for HQ



For the trip to HQ, Nottinghamshire have added bowlers Wood and Hutton to the team that took Yorkshire to the last ball this week. There have been calls to leave out Greg Smith and case could have been made to reintroduce Brendan Taylor after 3 T20 fifties this week in the Seconds or to use an all rounder such as Brett Hutton in place of a specialist batter.

As regards bowlers, Jake Ball, who is the stand-out performer so far, might be due to break, but only Harry Gurney, Ball apart, has taken wickets in clutches to force match situations. Jackson Bird hasn't took-off yet, but Aussie generally like doing well at Lord's so could this be his game?

Stuart Broad hasn't yet contributed with the ball in hand, could this be his time too?

 Brett Hutton deserves his own re-call, but who do you leave out? Smith?

The inclusion of both Broad and Bird, whist understandable, does spoil the balance of the team that Notts could list however perhaps one or two of the batsmen will actually score big this week. 

If Sam Robson has been scoring well at Lord's in 2016, Alex Hales needs to as well.

 Chris Read, X C
 Jake Ball, 
Jackson Bird, 
Stuart Broad, 
Harry Gurney, 
Alex Hales, 
Brett Hutton, 
Michael Lumb, 
Steven Mullaney, 
Samit Patel, 
Chris Read, 
Greg Smith, 
Riki Wessels, 
Luke Wood.