Northamptonshire CC2 at Trent Bridge

COBBLERS DON'T LAST LONG ON DAY FOUR

as Notts tie-up a comfortable victory by 163 runs

It took Notts 67 minutes to get the remaining five Northants wickets in the Trent Bridge sunshine. Adam Rossington was incapacitated with his broken thumb and did not bat. The wickets today were taken by Hutton 2 wickets, Patel 2 wickets and Jake Ball. Hutton has been ideal replacement for the unfortunate Fletcher taking 15 wickets in last two matches.

Ball (Radcliffe Road End) and Hutton (Pavilion) opened the bowling and off the twelfth ball of the day Wakely (37 – 90 balls with three fours) edged Hutton into the captain's gloves, 174 for five. Gun slinger Rory Kleinveldt got to 12 and then edged Hutton to Read, 182 for six. Josh Cobb became Read's third victim of the morning of the fourth of the innings as Cobb edged Jake Ball, Cobb gone for 38 (53 balls – 6 x 4). Both Cobb and Kleinveldt were looking to attack every ball and paid the price. After a five over spell Ball was replaced by Patel. Azharullah thrashed his way to 23 before skying Patel to Pujara running in from cover. The eighth wicket had added 32 runs in six overs. Gleeson getting a five as Hales' throw at the stumps missed and Gurney failed to stop the ball backing up. Ben Sanderson came in with Keogh as a runner as Luke Wood replaced Hutton. Sanderson was dropped at mid on by Hales at mid on off Patel. Gleeson (23) was out in the same over hitting Patel to Wessels at mid off; Samit’s 250th for Notts in the championship. Adam Rossington with absent hurt the game was over. Northants 253 all out as Notts won by 163 runs. Sanderson 16 not out. Patel three for 17. Twenty points to Notts who further strengthened their promotion prospects. With Sussex and Worcester winning once more it’s becoming a three horse race for promotion. MAG

WEATHER HOLDS UP NOTTS


On a day restricted to 53.2 overs Northants closed on 169 for four still requiring a further 249 runs for victory. After the start had been delayed for two and a half hours, Notts added 27 to their overnight total declaring once Wessels was dismissed for 116. 

Notts disappointed with the new ball not helped by the damp outfield but bowled much better after a heavy mid afternoon rain shower delayed play a further 90 minutes. Ball deserved more than the two wickets in a hostile post-tea eight over spell. Hutton bowling an excellent line and length yet somehow did not pick up a single wicket. Northants live to fight another day with Cobb and captain Wakely currently at the crease, but Notts will be very disappointed if they don't wrap up victory, weather permitting, some time tomorrow.

After early morning rain play was going to commence at 1310 but a brief shower meant that play finally got under way at 1328. With Northants wanting to get their over rate up Keogh and Azharullah off a shortened run were bowling in tandem. The 100 partnership between Wessels and Ball came up in 61 balls. Ball was dropped horrendously by Gleeson at mid off, Keogh the bowler. Wessels was caught on the square leg ropes by Keogh off Azharullah for 116 (88 balls - 16 x 4, 4 x 6). Notts immediately declared on 344 for nine. Northants required 417 to win. Ball 28 not out (5 x 4, 1 x 6). The ninth wicket stand had amassed 117 runs in 11.1 overs; the highest for Notts against The Cobblers. Northants minus 5 on the over rate.

The opening pair of Ball (Radcliffe) and Wood (Pavilion) bowled the first eight overs as openers Murphy and Newton made fairly comfortable progress in the damp conditions. Hutton replaced Ball as the Welbeck man changed ends. Rob Newton was badly dropped on 21 by Pujara at third slip off Brett Hutton. Jake Ball was not at his best and having bowled seven overs for 32 so he was replaced by Steven Mullaney. The light was getting poor so Patel replaced Hutton and with his fifth ball he removed Murphy leg before for 30, 69 for one. Shortly afterwards at 1515 the players went off for bad light and then a heavy shower followed as an early tea was taken with 47 overs left.

Play resumed at 1645 with a further 19 overs lost. Hutton and Mullaney bowled initially but after a three over spell from the Pavilion End Mullaney was replaced by Ball. Hutton had been bit unlucky not to pick up a wicket, he was taken off as Harry Gurney was finally summoned for over number 35, and a leg side ball from the left armer was hit for four by Rob Newton as he reached his 50 off 109 balls. Newton (53 – 113 balls with eight 4s) was surprised by a rising delivery from Jake Ball and he deflected the ball high in the air to Hutton at fourth slip, 113 for two. Levi (4) became the second victim of Ball's over edging to Read, 117 for three. Gurney removed Keogh for a duck via a brilliant catch at fourth slip by Brett Hutton diving to his left, 122 for four. Ball bowled an excellent hostile eight over spell getting plenty of lift and bounce. Hutton replaced him. Wood came on for Gurney after a six over spell but no further wickets fell as Trent Bridge was now bathed in early evening sunshine. Stumps were drawn at 1836 with Wakely on 31 and the aggressive Cobb with a quick fire 36 off 43 balls with six fours. Notts will be hoping for early incisions tomorrow as Northants still harbour hopes of an unlikely victory which would be the second highest run chase in the ground's long history. Heavy slow moving scattered showers are promised for tomorrow afternoon. MAG

TIP TOP WESSELS TIPS THE BALANCE FURTHER TOWARDS NOTTS
Notts ended the day with a lead of 389 with two second innings wickets still standing and are now well placed for victory. A brilliant unbeaten ton from former Northants player Riki Wessels tipped the game in Notts favour. Frustratingly 37 overs were lost at the end of day through bad light not helped by the visitors sluggish over rate (minus 5). With the wicket still giving plenty of help to the bowlers Notts will be disappointed if they do not go on gain a comprehensive victory.

In the third over of the morning, Jake Libby did not move his feet as he gave third slip Kleinveldt catching practice, Azharullah the bowler, 26 for one. There was a long hold up as Rossington was hit on the hand; Murphy took over wearing the gloves. More cloud cover came over and the floodlights came on. There was still plenty in the wicket. Mullaney lost two stumps to Kleinveldt as he departed for a 56 ball 28 including four boundaries, 62 for two. Patel survived a very confident leg before decision off his first ball, Kleinveldt the bowler. Samit though went on the attack racing to a fine 50 off 42 balls with nine fours and a leg side six off Gleeson into The Fridge. Pujara was happy to let Patel have the strike as Notts got to lunch 131 for two with Pujara 27 and Patel on 51. Northants had bowled a measly 26 overs in the session as Notts led by 203 runs.

The game saw it’s first over of spin as Keogh bowled the first over after lunch but was immediately replaced by Gleeson. Kleinveldt was bowling from the Radcliffe Road End and he picked up Patel as he went to play an expansive drive only to miss and get bowled. Patel 64 off 59 balls with 12 fours and one six, 144 for three. The third wicket had raised 82 runs in 16 overs. Hales hit a bright and breezy 25 off 22 balls with five fours and then lost his off stump to Kleinveldt. The fourth wicket added 31 runs. Pujara who never really got going and was out leg before to Azharullah for 34 (103 balls, 3 x 4), 176 for five, a lead of 248 runs. Kleinveldt was replaced by Sanderson but the former Tyke went lame after five balls of his spell and limped off and Kleinveldt returned to complete the over. Gleeson then came on from the Radcliffe Road End and was too quick for Read (2) who edged him to Levi at slip, 195 for six. Hutton was swinging at every ball and got to 13 when he edged Gleeson into Murphy's gloves, 221 for seven. Wood then played on for one as Gleeson picked up his third wicket, 227 for eight. Then the fun started as 90 runs came off the next 47 balls, mainly off the bat of the superb Wessels, as crowd were richly entertained. Wessels got to excellent 50 off 56 balls in an over from Gleeson that went for 19. Wessels and Ball reached their 50 partnership in 29 balls with Jake's contribution being a single. The carnage continued as Northants now restricted to three fit seamers were getting increasingly tired and demoralised. Wessels quite literally took them to the cleaners as he reached his, quite brilliant, ton off 77 balls. The light was deteriorating and tea was taken five overs early at 1613 with Notts on 317 for eight with Wessels on 107 (79 balls, 14 x 4, 4 x 6) and Ball on 10. The light never improved and play was called off at 1815. The visitors have three players injured Wakely and Rossington with hand ailments and Sanderson with a leg injury. They are there for the taking. MAG



ADVANTAGE SWINGS TO NOTTS

on day where 20 wickets fall

On an action packed first day Notts lead by 91 runs with all their second innings wickets still standing. Northants who decided not to automatically insert Notts clearly wanted to bat and likewise Notts who won the toss. The ball swung all day as 20 wickets fell. 

Northants' four man fast unit bowled well but Notts matched their efforts with the wickets being shared around. Notts were indebted to fifties for Mullaney and Wessels which ultimately proved the difference in the respective first innings score of 213 and 141. With the weather much cooler tomorrow the ball should not swing so lavishly on day two.

Notts won the toss and elected to bat. With Footitt reporting a neck injury, Gurney returned to the championship team. Pujara replaced Brendan Taylor. Duckett was missing from the visitors’ line up. Opening up Kleinveldt (Radcliffe) and Sanderson (Pavilion) were getting plenty of lift. After bowling a seven over spell for 17, Kleinveldt was replaced by Gleeson. The brisk right hander got Libby (14) to edge his fifth ball as Levi held the chance at first slip, 35 for one. Pujara edged his first ball through the slips for four. Azharullah came on from the Pavilion End and in his third over Pujara was bowled off stump for 18 off 15 balls (3 x 4), 70 for two. In his next over Azharullah got one to come in and with Patel shouldering aims was bowled for four, 76 for three. Hales was still in T20 mode he hit Azharullah for four then edged a wide ball to Wakely at second slip, Hales out for four off four balls. Notts 88 for four. Mullaney got to his 50 off 72 balls with a streaky edged four off Azharullah. Notts went to lunch on 110 for four off 28 overs with Mullaney on 55 and Wessels on 4. It had been Northants morning with Azharullah having figures of three for 33. They had taken advantage of the greenish pitch and favourable overhead conditions. 

This was just the start of the wicket taking bonanza.

Batting was no easier after lunch, as 20 minutes in Mullaney was bowled for 58 (10 x 4 off 95 balls) the returning Kleinveldt the bowler getting the ball to considerably come back in, 124 for five. Read never really looked settled against the testing Northants attack. Sanderson was replaced by Azharullah and Read (8) mistimed a pull shot that found Sanderson at mid wicket, 141 for six. Kleinveldt was then hit for five fours in one over by Wessels. Azharullah picked up fifth wicket when Hutton shouldered arms for five, 167 for seven. Wood did not last long either getting an all run four and a three but fell leg before to Gleeson, 174 for eight. Wessels got to his 50 off 53 balls. Gleeson beat Jake Ball for pace as he edged into Rossington's gloves for a duck, 182 for nine. The next ball to Gurney went for four byes as Gleeson strayed down leg side. Gurney got the solitary batting bonus point via unexpected four through the third man region. The tenth wicket added 31 until Wessels top edged Gleeson as Rossington took the catch. Notts 213 all out. Wessels 69 off 80 balls with 13 fours was the best innings of the day. With Extras with 22 being the third top scorer this was a disappointing effort from Notts only facing 50.1 overs. Northants though had bowled well with Azharullah 5 for 63 and Gleeson 4 for 38. Gleeson mysteriously described as right medium in Playfair was the fastest bowler on show today. Tea was taken between the innings. The former had got the ball to move and the latter had used his pace to good effect on a wicket with plenty of pace and lift. Kleinveldt bowled well but only picked up a single wicket for 61.

Ball (Radcliffe) and Wood (Pavilion) took the new ball. The first few overs were pretty easy for openers Murphy and Newton. There was a stoppage as Newton had treatment having been hit of the hand. Shortly afterwards Rob Newton (15) could not cope with the bouncing Ball as he edged to Read, 28 for one. In his next over Jake Ball bowled a superb Yorker that removed captain Alex Wakely's leg stump for four, 36 for two. Wood not bowling at his best initially produced a good ball as Murphy (23) edged to Read who took the catch at the second attempt, 44 for three. Luke Wood had found his mojo and got one to swing into Levi (5) and which took his off stump, 49 for four. Ball's opening spell was 7-1-20-2 as Hutton came on from the Radcliffe Road End. With the ball still swinging Mullaney replaced Wood who had figures of 7-0-33-2. Hutton got through the Keogh as the right hander was leg before for 5, 57 for five. Next over Rossington (2) was plumb leg before to Mullaney for two, 57 for six. Kleinveldt lasted three balls before edging to Read who took his third catch of the innings, a second wicket for Mullaney, 59 for seven. Sanderson was dropped behind the stumps by Read when on 4 off Mullaney as Cobb and himself went for their shots. Cobb hitting three consecutive fours off Mullaney. The dropped catch did not cost much as Sanderson was leg before to Hutton for nine, 84 for eight. Cobb hit a straight six off Mullaney but the former Leicester man was gifted runs as Read put too many men on the boundary underestimating Gleeson's ability with the bat. Ball returned for a three over burst. Hutton replaced him and got Gleeson leg before for 25 off 48 balls (5 x 4), the ninth wicket added for 48, 132 for nine. Harry Gurney bowled a poor four over spell from the Pavilion End and Luke Wood was summoned and it was he who removed last man Azharullah via a top edge with Read taking the catch running back. Cobb 46 not out off 85 balls (4 x 4, 2 x 6). Northants 141 all out, Notts led by 72 runs. Hutton three for 25 and Wood three for 35 and two wickets a piece for Ball and Mullaney.

Notts had five overs to survive and Libby and Mullaney got to the close on 19 for nought at stumps at 1903 with no less than 16 from Mr Extras. It had been a roller coaster day in the TB sunshine. MAG