Friday 8 July 2016

v Northamptonshire Steelbacks NWT20 Blast at County Ground, Northampton


BOGEYMEN TRIUMPHANT

Imran Tahir and Dan Christian were the stars as Notts gained a relatively easy six wicket victory at Wantage Road last night



On a sunny evening, in front of a large crowd with many standing, Notts won the toss and inserted Northants. Notts welcomed back Chris Read after a seven week injury break and Tahir was making his baseball debut. The home team top of the table feared the Green and Gold their website dubbing Notts their bogey team having failed to have beaten Notts over the previous 14 matches in all competitions.

Christian continuously rotated his bowl early doors with Patel opening the bowling from the Wilson End and conceding seven. Openers Rossington and Levi were going for their shots. Bizarrely Christian bowled himself in the power play going for 10. Harry Gurney was hit for consecutive sixes by Levi in over five. Jake Ball removed Adam Rossington's middle stump of the first ball of the sixth over, 52 for one. The former Middlesex man had made 22 off 18 balls. Northants got to 59 for one at the end of the power play. Next over Patel had Levi leg before reverse sweeping for 35 off 20 balls with three fours and three sixes, 62 for two. Tahir bowling from the Pavilion End completely tied Northants down bowling with an amazing 15 dot balls. His first over went for five and next over Cobb (8) holed out to Patel; Jake Ball taking the catch at deep mid wicket. Crook (4) hit Tahir for four and then was dismissed leg before next ball, 82 for four in the 10th over. Tahir picked up another leg before decision this time Wakely (4) playing back and missing, 90 for five, Northants were struggling. Tahir though was replaced after three overs but Patel completed his spell with 4-0-27-2. Christian leaked another 10 runs. But then Northants folded meekly as Mullaney finally entered the attack from the Wilson End. Mullaney should have had Prasanna caught and bowled but fluffed the chance running back. He then though made amends, Duckett hit him into orbit and Mullaney did not miss the catch this time. Duckett called up for Lions service 29 off 23 balls with three fours, 108 for six. Three balls later Prasanna was caught off a lead edge by Dan Christian at cover for three. The end was nigh. Gleeson was caught by Patel at mid wicket as Imran finished with 4-0-13-3, memorising the Northants line up and winning the man of the match; a player who clearly enjoys every game of cricket he plays. White (3) edged the returning Gurney to Read and then finally with ten balls unused former Tyke Moin Ashraf was bowled by Mullaney, Northants 122 all out. Mullaney 2.2-0-12-3. An uncompetitive score, well below par.

Notts got off to sluggish start. Off the eighth ball Richard Gleeson formerly of Cumberland had Wessels leg before for three, six for one. Michael Lumb then hit Azharullah for three fours off four balls. Next over Smith was spectacularly run out off his own bowling by Gleeson who fielded the ball Roger Harper like in his follow through demolishing the stumps in one movement with Smith out of his ground, Smith gone for four, Notts 22 for two in the fourth over. Next over, Azharullah was hit for six, four and four by Christian as the innings was given impetus. Notts were 44 for two at the end of the power play. Indeed they stood at 56 for two at the end of the ninth still making relatively pedestrian progress. Over 10 bowled by Graeme White (3-0-29-0) went for 13 as Christian crashed another six. The next over bowled by Sri Lankan Seekkuge Prasanna was hit for 20, Christian getting hold of the leg spinners over went .46262 although both sixes only just cleared the ropes. The rest of the innings was somewhat anti climatic after getting his 50 in 28 balls Christian was caught on the deep mid wicket ropes by Cobb, Ashraf the bowler; Christian had once again played well, hitting the ball extremely hard. He made 58 off 32 balls with four sixes and four fours, He had added 79 with Lumb in nine overs for the third wicket. Lumb was slightly less dominant and fell three balls later of the impressive right arm seamer Gleeson for 37-ball 38 with five boundaries. Lumb skied Gleeson to deep mid off where White took the easiest of catches; 102 for four. Gleeson 4-0-13-2 plus the run out of Smith, the 27 year old a good find out of Minor Counties Cricket. Patel (17*) and Taylor (2*) saw Notts over the line with three overs unused. Once again The Bogeymen had triumphed over the Cobblers; Notts now third in the North and facing a Rapid turnaround playing Worcester at TB today. MAG




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