v Warwickshire Bears RLODC at Trent Bridge

MICHAEL LUMB PROPELS OUTLAWS TO ANOTHER 400 IN TRENT BRIDGE RUN-FEST 2



Another run bonanza on the same pitch as used on Monday, this time 794 runs (22 sixes) were scored as Notts triumphed by 36 runs on another glorious sunny day. The highlight of this game was another massive opening stand between Michael Lumb and Riki Wessels this time 178 following their stands of 100 (Saturday) and 342 (Monday).

Ian Bell won the toss and inserted Notts, Christian confirmed after the match that Notts would have batted any way. Jake Ball was with the England squad and was replaced by Brett Hutton. The rest of Notts line up was unchanged. Warwickshire came with a strong line up but were without England man Chris Woakes.

The first three balls of the Notts innings to Lumb were dot balls but then Lumb dispatched the next two balls for four. The floodgates were open and the runfest commenced. The fifty came up the tenth over as Lumb hit Hannon-Dalby for six. The 100 partnership was reached in the 16th as Lumb dispatched Jeetan Patel for successive fours. The 150 stand was achieved in the 22nd over. Off the first ball of the 27th over, Wessels miscued a ball from Richard Jones and was caught at mid on by Rikki Clarke. Wessels had scored 76 at a run a ball with seven fours and two sixes, Notts 178 for one. The run scoring slowed somewhat during this spell. Trott had come on and bowled every fourth over from the Radcliffe Road starting with over 22; Bell continuously rotating his attack. Trott’s first three overs costing just 12 runs. The fourth over going for 16 runs. 

Lumb got to his ton with a single in the 29th over off Hannon-Dalby. His 100 came off 88 balls, 12 faster than his innings on Monday. Greg Smith after a slow start found his feet and added.61 runs in eight overs with Lumb. Clarke picked up two wickets in the 35th over. Firstly Lumb was bowled off his pads for a majestic 133 made off 108 balls with 11 fours and five sixes. He left to a standing ovation. Taylor hit a four but was bowled third ball to a ball that moved in. Notts 243 for three. Smith with Christian initially consolidated but with wickets in hand the innings exploded with 122 runs coming off the last eight overs. Dan Christian blasted 94 off 47 balls with eight fours and five sixes. The third wicket stand added 141 in 14 overs before Smith was caught at long on off Javid for 73. His innings was more about scampering with just three fours and two sixes in his innings. Christian finally perished one hit from his ton skying to cover off Hannon-Dalby in over 50. The beanpole seamer’s sole victim having been hit for 89 in eight overs. However with a no ball thrown in this last over went for 27 runs as Patel got to 17 in five balls. Notts 415 for five in another breathless 50 overs. Clarke stood out bowling a briskly but concentrating on line and length, bowling 10-1-45-2. Over five of the Notts innings was the only maiden bowled on this ultimate batting paradise over the two games played on it. Patel normally a thorn in Notts side went for eight an over in his 10 over spell. Richard Jones also leaked runs eight overs for 85.

The sunshine vanished during the tea interval and cloud cover came over. Gurney and Fletcher opened up and in the sixth over Porterfield played a poor shot to be caught at short fine leg by Taylor to depart for 12, 28 for one. Trott and Hain were scoring at a run a ball and on 34 Hain was dropped at deep mid wicket by Wood off Hutton a difficult chance low down on the stretch. Trott was then dropped on 44 by the same fielder an easier chance this time off Mullaney who had just replaced Hutton. In the 21st over Hain was dismissed caught at mid on in Sam Wood's first over. Hain's 69 came off 60 balls with eight fours and two sixes. The second wicket had added 106 in 15 overs. Wood had replaced Patel from the Radcliffe Road End, Samit had bowled five overs for 43. The experienced pair of Trott and Bell added 95 runs in 13 overs until Bell was bowled by Mullaney for 60 (47 balls, 5 x 4; 1 x 6). Next over Patel bowed Evans for one, 230 for four. The pressure was now on Trott to up the pace as Bears required more than ten an over. Trott got to three figures in 92 balls and next ball the former England man went for one big hit too many and was caught by Sam Wood at deep mid wicket off Mullaney. He had batted very impressively in this each innings at Trent Bridge. His 100 included nine fours and one six.

 Danger man Clarke (6) was out next over caught at mid on by Wood this time off Hutton now bowling from the Radcliffe Road End, 263 for six. Bears now required a distant 153 runs off 11.2 overs. Still though the big hitting continued Tim Ambrose raced to 73 off 40 balls with seven fours and three sixes. The seventh wicket partnership between Ambrose and Javid added 77 runs in seven overs. Gurney returned and proved harder to get away. Ambrose was caught at mid off by the sprawling Fletcher off the left armer. Patel lasted two balls before losing his off stump to Gurney. Javid struggled to time the ball and got to 20 off 18 balls when he became Gurney’s third victim caught right on the long on ropes by Mullaney. 

Jones smashed 26 in 13 balls. Mullaney came on to bowl the last over and with three balls remaining bowled the former Pear Jones as Warwick were 379 all out. Notts had bowled better than two nights previously. Gurney was the stand out with 10-0-58-3. Mullaney picked up three wickets but went at 8.52 RPO in his 9.3 over spell. Fletcher went for 52 runs in six overs and his place in the side must be in some jeopardy. Notts probably now need to win three out of the last six games to qualify for the 50 over quarters. Next up in the 50 over stuff is a trip to Stanley Park, Blackpool but before then they host Derbyshire in the Twenty/20 on Friday. MAG

On a wave of record levels of euphoria, the D of C has announce the same squad that were lined up against the roly-polys of Northamptonshire, minus Jake England-call Ball.


If Michael Lumb is fit, the obvious call would be Hutton in for Ball. Jake Ball fed more than his fair share of wide and short tee-ups for the Northants batters, so won't be missed too much. Hopefully the wicket won't be so flat as the likes of Fletch didn't have a chance on such a surface as on Monday but don't hold your breath the club seem to feel vindicated by the record breaking score.  Warwickshire's bowlers have more zip about them and a repeat wicket might play into their hands.

In truth Northants should never have so close but the confidence must must be growing after two messy wins on the bounce. Perhaps the bowlers have had an intensive session with Andy Pick today - I have an element of doubt, unfortunately, about that.

If Lumb isn't fit, we in deep do-dos as only him and Wessels have shown a a clear head batting in the two wins, the rest (except Woody and Fletch) have been a bunch Reckless Erics and have chucked wickets away, losing momentum and giving the opposition lift when they should have been dead and buried. (Yes Christian did ok with his cameo on Monday but all good work was cancelled out by some plain stupid captaincy decisions and an over of pure filth that he bowled himself. Over 6 bowled by Patel, big mistake in PP1.

I still don't believe Kleinveldt was as injured as he allegedly claimed, to have a spritely runner. Well done umpires with Levi's runner, because of his wrist injury, he should never had batted and I hope his lack of a runner didn't contribute or complicate his injury further. 

Dan Christian (c), Matt Carter, Luke Fletcher, Harry Gurney, Brett Hutton, Michael Lumb, Steven Mullaney, Samit Patel, Greg Smith, Brendan Taylor, Riki Wessels and Sam Wood.