Lancashire Specsavers CC1 Win

Day 4
GURNEY AND BALL DESTROY LANCS

to give Notts victory

The glorious uncertainty of cricket; in one of the bizarre sessions of cricket ever witnessed, Notts triumphed by six wickets at sunny Old Trafford today. It was a five star performance. Twelve wickets fell for 25 runs in 92 balls. 

The pitch which had helped the seamers throughout seemed to gather more pace and bounce overnight and the wicket was now a complete bowlers delight with the ball and the bowlers still getting much sideways movement. Every edge went to hand, spectacular catches were taken, and no streaky boundaries were obtained. The end result though was very satisfying from a Notts perspective with a win which will hopefully silence the doomsayers which had forgotten about the all quality within the Notts line up and concentrated more on the size of the squad available. It was welcome to see Jake Ball bowl so well in the match after a difficult winter; he had match figures of 9 for 57. A return to rhythm for Jake and if he retains it he will be undoubtedly one of the top divisions leading bowlers; as he was in 2016. Harry Gurney after shortening his run up bowled with much more control and took a career best 6 for 25 in the Lancashire second innings, Harry got to the ball to move both ways all game.

Gurney bowled the first over of the day from the Anderson End and with his third ball Jennings (27) was leg before. The left hander walking off without waiting for the umpires decision, 58 for three. With light rain falling and the floodlights on Gurney picked up another wicket with the first ball of his next over, Chanderpaul being stunningly caught at third slip by Taylor for 0, 62 for four. Rain then stopped play at 1110. Play resumed five minutes later with one over lost. Livingstone hit a four through the covers off Ball to take the lead but Ball got his revenge as Livingstone (12) edged into Moores gloves, 66 for five. Croft looked all at sea against Ball playing and missing repeatedly and was bowled neck and crop as a result of a peach of a delivery by Ball for a duck. A devil of a start for Notts, Lancashire, rooted-on, 66 for 6. Next back to the pavilion was Clark who slashed to Nash at fourth slip, a brilliant catch low to the right. Another duck and a third wicket for Ball. Gurney got his fifth as the hapless Bailey (1) edged to Moores, 73 for 8.Vilas (6) edged Ball, Moores dived to his right and parried the ball to Wessels at first slip,73 for nine. Mennie was the last man dismissed and became Moores fifth catch of the innings, another duck and Gurney's sixth of the innings. Lancashire 73 all out, had lost 10 wickets for 24 and 8 for 15 in the morning. Gurney 6 for 25 off 12.2 overs and Ball 4 for 14 off 10 overs had trampled all over the Red Rose.

Notts required 10 runs for victory, but made heavy work of it. Off the seventh ball of the innings, Mullaney (1) pulled Mennie straight to Onions at long leg, 1 for one. Libby then leg glanced Onions for 4. Nash edged Mennie and Hameed took a good steepling catch running back from slip to short third man. Yet another duck. The batsman crossed and Libby (4) was out next ball caught at second slip by Livingstone, 5 for three. Patel hit his fourth ball through the covers for 4 off Mennie. Taylor then edged Onions to Livingstone at first slip, the sixth duck of the morning, this time a golden one. A leg side single for Wessels off Onions saw Notts home at 1228. Mennie three for four. It was Notts first away victory in First Division cricket since New Road in August 2015. I am sure the team were not really concerned about the loss of the wickets, but concentrated more on this outstanding victory against last season’s runners up.

The whole crowd seemed completely shell shocked following the mornings events as they headed for the exit gates. Notts had pulled off what seemed overnight an unlikely victory Well played, Notts now need to put on their flippers and snorkels as they head to Leeds on Friday. Let's hope the Headingley ground dries out in the warmer temperatures predicted for this week. MAG
Day 3

TRUNCATED DAY AT OLD TRAFFORD

AS RAIN RETURNS

With 48 overs lost in the 104 over day and Lancashire 58 for two in their second innings, a deficit of six. A draw is now the likeliest outcome. 

Notts added 95 to their overnight total courtesy of 44 from Riki Wessels and 38 from Tom Moores. Harry Gurney was the pick of the bowlers with two for 22 off 7 overs dismissing Hameed and Davies. The wicket is still offering assistance to the bowlers although it still lacks any pace.

Play got under way with cloudy skies and the flags at half mast in memory of Nottinghamshire committee member Ray Dawson who had died overnight. Wessels and Moores saw off Mennie and Bailey and made relatively untroubled progress as the 50 partnership was achieved in 99 balls. The floodlights were now on as Moores hit Jennings for a huge six over square leg. Livingstone replaced Jennings and in his second over of the morning got one to turn and had Wessels leg before for 44 off 76 balls with 4 fours. A fine patient effort from Wessels. The seventh wicket had added 82 invaluable runs in 23 overs. A shower stopped play at 1240 and an early lunch was taken with Notts on 204 for seven off 67.3 overs with  Moores on 33 and Wood on 4.

Play recommenced at 1335 with three overs lost and Notts innings only lasted a further 25 minutes. Luke Wood (8) edged to Vilas at slip, Livingstone the bowler, 210 for eight. Shortly after a stoppage after being hit on the helmet by Mennie, Moores fell to the same bowler losing his leg stump for 38 having moved too far to the off. Young Moores innings was a bit of mix bag with some fine shots interspersed with a bit of swiping outside off stump, but a very promising effort off 113 balls with 5 fours and 1 six. Ball was stumped off Livingstone for 9. Notts 222 all out, a lead of 64. Three wickets apiece for Bailey, Mennie and Livingstone.

Jake Ball (Anderson End) and Luke Fletcher (Stretford End) opened the bowling in the second innings . In the fifth over, Hameed was dropped behind the wicket by Moores off Ball, a difficult chance diving to his right. Rain stopped play at 1446 with Lancashire 14 for 0 off 8.2 overs.

Play recommenced 14 minutes later with a further four overs lost. With a breakthrough not forthcoming Mullaney turned to Gurney and Patel. Hameed survived a confident caught and bowled shout by Gurney but edged the next ball into Moores' gloves and this time Bumble junior raised the finger.  Boy Wonder gone for 19, 49 for one. In his next over Gurney picked up Davies caught behind, the stumper getting a thin edge as Moores took the catch down leg side. Davies gone for a duck,  51 for two. Seven further runs were added without loss when tea was taken at 1600 with Jennings on 27 and Livingstone on 4. 

Light drizzle then set in and play was abandoned for the day at 1725. MAG

Day 2

DAY OF WICKETS AT OLD TRAFFORD

JAKE BALL GOES NAP BUT NOTTS WILL NEED A CHRIS READ STYLED INNINGS IN THE MORNING

On a glorious sunny day a fascinating days cricket unfolded on a slow low seaming Old Trafford pitch where run scoring was difficult and the outfield very sluggish. Notts having bowled out at Lancashire for 158 limped to 127 for six, 31 runs behind when stumps were drawn at 1932. Lancashire relied on two bowlers Bailey and Mennie to make an impact whereas Notts bowling was a team effort. There is little to choose between the teams at the close.

After yesterdays washout, play started on time with 104 overs to be bowled. Notts inserted Lancashire after an uncontested toss and Root and Footitt were left out of the 13. Ross Taylor and Chris Nash made their Notts debuts, the former being presented with his county cap before play. Ball (Anderson End) and Fletcher (Statham End) opened up. In his sixth over Ball had Hameed plumb leg before for three, 21 for one. After seven overs Ball was replaced by Gurney. With his third ball Gurney off his new shortened run had Jennings caught and bowled for 11, 28 for 2. Jennings appeared to lose sight of the ball and there followed a long hold up as a glittering step in the pavilion was covered up with some white cloth. After bowling nine overs for 14, Fletcher was replaced by Wood.who conceded 10 off his first over. In his third over Wood removed Livingstone for nine. The Lancashire skipper shoulder arms and saw his off peg cartwheeling out of the ground, 59 for three. In his next over Wood had Davies playing all round one to depart for 23, 61 for four. Lancashire went to lunch on 77 for 4 off 29 overs with Chanderpaul on 4 and Vilas on 9. All the Notts bowlers had bowled well.

Wood and Ball returned after lunch. Wood was proving expensive and was replaced by Fletcher from the Statham End. The 50 partnership between Chanderpaul and Vilas came up off 72 balls. Fourteen runs later,Chanderpaul (11) mistimed a pull shot off Fletcher and ballooned the ball to Libby at square leg, 124 for 5. Gurney changed ends replacing Fletcher and bowled Vilas for 49, 131 for 6. Croft (6) edged one off Ball and it deflected off his body to Wessels who ran round to take the catch from slip. Bailey went the next ball for a golden duck caught Moores bowled Ball, 149 for eight. Minnie hit Gurney for 4, the first boundary off the bat conceded by Harry in his thirteenth over. A poor shot from Jordan Clark saw him caught low down by Wood on the deep square leg ropes for 19, a fourth wicket for Ball. Onions was last to depart caught by Wood at short square leg off the Welbeck Wizard for 0, 158 all out. Ball 5 for 43 off 17 overs. An outstanding effort on a slow low seamer. Gurney having a lot more control off his shortened run for 2 for 18 off 14 overs. Tea was taken between the innings.

In the eighth over of the reply Libby was caught behind by Davies off Onions bowling from the Anderson End for 15, the right hander edging down the leg side, 20 for one. Jordan Clark replaced Tom Bailey at the Statham End and next over debutant Aussie Joe Mennie came on for Onions. Mullaney and Nash got tied down by Mennie and Bailey and the captain edged the accurate Bailey into Davies gloves, Mullaney gone for 24, 62 for two. Nash became Bailey's second victim leg before to ball that kept low for 24,75 for three. Bailey was dropping it on a sixpence and Ross Taylor became his next victim leg before, shuffling across for nine, 82 for four. Wessels and Patel added 28 until Patel was bowled off his pads for 28, a maiden championship victim for Joe Mennie. Nightwatchman Luke Fletcher failed to last the over caught down the leg side by Alex Davies for 2, 112 for six. Wessels and Moores added a further 15 runs. Spin was finally introduced in over 104 of the game bowled by Livingstone under clear blue skies but with the floodlights now on. Wessels was on 18 and Moores on 0. MAG
Day 1 No Play - too wet

Full of hope and looking to give Nottinghamshire debuts to Chris Nash and Ross Taylor, Notts have announced thirteen man squad to travel to Old Trafford for the CC1 opener.

Steven Mullaney (c)
Chris Nash, 
Jake Libby, 
Riki Wessels, 
Samit Patel, 
Ross Taylor, 
Luke Wood,
Luke Fletcher, 
Tom Moores (wkt), 
Jake Ball, 
Billy Root.
Mark Footitt,
 Harry Gurney

Lancashire have gone one more with a squad of 14

Liam Livingstone (C), 
Tom Bailey, 
Shiv Chanderpaul, 
Jordan Clark, 
Steven Croft, 
Alex Davies, 
Haseeb Hameed, 
Keaton Jennings, 
Danny Lamb, 
Joe Mennie, 
Graham Onions, 
Stephen Parry, 
Matt Parkinson, 
Dane Vilas