Sussex CC2 at Trent Bridge

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE SHOW THEY'RE A CLASS ABOVE



Notts' tremendous start to the season continued as they took 17 Sussex wickets in a day as they triumphed at 1809 by an innings and 88 runs. The wickets were shared around amongst the seamers with the disappointing Sussex top order clearly not being able to deal with the pace of Pattinson in particular. It’s hard to believe that Notts were struggling after 90 minutes into the fixture after which they totally dominated this mismatch; men against boys. Although hit by injuries Sussex proved disappointing opponents, looking dispirited throughout. Notts now sit top of the table with three victories from three games. Pattinson unfortunately does not now play another red ball fixture for Notts, He has been a revelation; the best overseas championship since David Hussey. He has scored 160 runs @ 80 and taken 20 wickets @11.15.

Play got underway in bright sunshine and off the first ball of second over Delray Rawlins (4) edged a swinging ball from Pattinson into Read's gloves. Evans (9) endured a torrid time and it was no surprise when he edged the rapid Pattinson to Patel at second slip, 35 for five. Fletcher replaced Broad from the Pavilion End following a four over spell. Luke Wright came in and drove Ball (who had replaced Pattinson) when on three to wide mid off where Broad failed to hold a difficult chance. In his next over, Ball had van Zyl's inside edging as Read took his second catch of the innings, 64 for six. The South African left hander had made 28 (48 balls; 5 x 4). Wright went for his shots and raced to 34 off 38 balls but Jake Ball produced a corker that kept low and the former Leicester man had his off peg removed, 93 for seven. Next over a well pitched up ball from Fletcher also kept low, exit Ben Brown leg before for 10, 103 for eight. Jofra Archer proved he had more than one string to his bow going for shots and hitting a quick fire 40 off 29 balls. The leg side trap was set and after fair few short balls he holed out to Smith on the deep square leg ropes off Broad. The limping Magoffin hit his first ball for four to bring up the 150. Patel came on from the Radcliffe Road End to speed up the over rate and Magoffin (5) edged him to Wessels to take the catch low down at first slip. Sussex trailed by 292 runs on first innings with 155 all out with Barton 13 not out. Pattinson was the picked the bowlers as Sussex clearly could not handle his pace; his figures were 8-2-22-4. A delayed lunch was taken at 1318.

Four balls into the follow on Harry Finch was leg before to Broad for a duck. A sharp catch at third slip by Smith saw the end of left hander Rawlins for a duck as Broad picked up his second wicket, 10 for two. Nash and vanZyl added 62 runs for the third wicket. The former South African test player constantly played and missed against Pattinson and Ball. Finally Pattinson found the edge, another catch for Read, van Zyl gone for 21. Laurie Evans was well and truly beaten for pace plumb leg before on his back foot, out for a seven ball duck another victim for James Pattinson. There were long stoppage as Nash was struck on the hand from a fearsome ball from Pattinson he then reached his 50 with a slashed four off the same bowler. But the Australian was not to be denied having Nash leg before for 53, 83 for five. Pattinson last championship wicket for Notts. Tea was immediately taken with Sussex well and truly on the ropes.

Broad and Pattinson opened the bowling after tea and then Fletcher replaced Broad from the Radcliffe Road End. Ben Brown (20) edged The Metronome as Smith took the catch at second slip, 142 for six. Luke Wright (34) was next to go caught at mid on by Stuart Broad off Fletcher, 147 for seven. Fletcher (6) got his third when Whittingham edged him into Read's safe hands, 172 for eight. Adam Barton lasted 28 balls until losing his middle peg to Broad. Archer showing plenty of character against numerous short balls was the last man out holing out off Patel on the deep mid wicket ropes where Ball took the catch. Archer had scored 47 off 32 balls with six fours and one six; Sussex 204 all out. Three wickets each for Broad, Pattinson and Fletcher. Ball the only disappointment with 12-0-65-0. In the match Pattinson took seven, Broad five, Fletcher four and two apiece for Ball and Patel. Notts now have eight white ball 50 overs fixtures returning to championship action in a month’s time at Cardiff. MAG
A CHANGE IN FORTUNE FOR WESSELS AS RIKI AND NOTTS CASH-IN

Having been 88 for five at 1230 Notts ended play in a position of total dominance following a brilliant career best innings of 202 not out from a resurgent Riki Wessels. Notts eventually bowled out for a massive 447 scored at 5.74 RPO and then with six overs to bat in the late evening sunshine Sussex limped to 11 for three. The boundaries were short on the Bridgford Road side and the outfield was fast but Magoffin apart, the Sussex bowling was poor and the fielding not much better with three catches dropped. It was not a good day for the Martlets, it was however a tremendous day for Notts.

Notts made only one change with Broad coming in for Gurney. No toss was required as Sussex elected to bowl under the heavy cloud cover. Sussex were missing Chris Jordan (IPL) and the injured Philander and Ollie Robinson. Former Notts man Shahzad and Kolpak David Wiese did not make the final eleven. What followed was a crazy morning as Notts scored at five an over but in doing so losing half their wickets. Greg Smith appeared to be only using the edge of his bat as he was given a good working over from veteran Magoffin from the Pavilion End. It was no surprise when Smith edged the Australian to Laurie Evans (8) in the gully, 14 for one. Samit Patel (4) came in at number three once more but lasted just five balls edging Magoffin in to Brown's gloves, 22 for two. The support bowling to Magoffin was mediocre as Archer, Whittingham and left armer Adam Barton were struggling with their line. Barton having previously played against Notts for Cambridge MCCU in March. Hales scored a bright and breezy 45 off 39 balls taking advantage of the short Bridgford Road boundary. Archer returned for his second spell from the Radcliffe Road End and with his first ball, a brisk delivery surprised Hales as he tickled it behind. The third wicket had added 61 runs in 11 overs. Three balls later Libby departed leg before to a ball that kept low to the same bowler for 21 (46 balls with two fours), 84 for four. It got even worse next over as Lumb (1) edged the returning Magoffin to Evans at fourth slip, 88 for five. Read joined Wessels as the fun continued as a further 54 runs were added in the remaining 58 balls before lunch. Notts got to the break on 142 for five off 28 overs with Read on 23 and Wessels on 34; the latter going for his shots and looking in his best form for some time.

An incredible afternoon session saw Notts add 220 for the loss of three wickets off 36 overs. Wessels was dropped on 34 at second slip by Chris Nash off Archer. Shortly afterwards Chris Read played on to Magoffin for 30 (37 balls, 5 x 4), 152 for six. Wessels was then dropped at first slip by Harry Finch when on 47. The seventh wicket added 28 runs as Pattinson became Magoffin's fifth victim caught by keeper Brown for 12. Magoffin though had been over bowled by skipper Wright and hobbled off the field with figures of 18- 7-51-5; he never returned. As a consequence the scoring rate increased even more as Wessels and Broad gorged themselves against Sussex's support bowling adding 132 runs in just 94 balls; the crowd loved it. Finally Broad lost his off stump to Whittingham; his 57 came off 46 balls with nine fours and one six. He was dropped at first slip when on 16 by Finch off Archer. Notts got to tea on 362 for eight with Wessels on 150 and Fletcher on 23. Wessels capitalizing on any short or wide was imperious form.

In the fifth over after tea Fletcher was leg before to van Zyl's medium pacers for 25, 382 for nine. Wessels brought up the 400 with a four over long on off van Zyl's. With the light getting worse umpires Millns and Hartley then took the players off at 1655 with Notts 403 for nine. Play restarted at 1722 but the play only lasted 12 minutes when bad light stopped play again with Notts 417 for nine. Play recommenced at 1811 with 10 overs lost off the daily ration, Wessels reached a superb career best 202 not out (177 balls, 22 4s and seven 6s) as Ball was last man out bowled by Jofra Archer for 18; 65 being added for the last wicket. Notts 447 all out off 77.5 overs. Wessels after months of struggle had found form in spectacular fashion; great news for him and all Notts supporters. Archer bowled 27.5 overs for his three for 155. Support seamers Barton and Whittingham had combined figures of 21-0-169-1. Ouch!

The sun had now finally made an appearance on a cold, blustery day but Sussex made a nightmare start in front of what now was a sparse crowd. Nash (1) was out the eleventh ball of the innings leg before to Pattinson, again too hot to handle. Four balls later Finch (4) was pinned right in front by Broad bowling from the Pavilion End. Off the first ball of Pattinson’s next over, night watchman Whittingham had his stumps detonated as he departed for a duck. Stumps came at 1903 with Sussex on 11 for three, Rawlins yet to score and van Zyl two not out. What a day for the Green and Gold and Wessels in particular. MAG


Notts have announced a 13 man squad that includes both England bowlers and the returning Brendan Taylor.

Will home supporters get a chance to see James Pattinson in action this week, after with him now being call-up by Australia for the Champions Trophy, we only have his services until May 16th?

Alex Hales
Jake Libby
Michael Lumb 
Riki Wessels 
Jake Ball
Jimmy Pattinson
Luke Fletcher 
Stuart  Broad 
Samit Patel
Chris Read
Greg Smith