Durham RLODC at Riverside, Chester le Street Win

MAGNIFICENT MULLANEY LEADS OUTLAWS TO VICTORY

with a Captain's Knock and a Cool Head in the field

A magnificent career best 124 from Captain Steven Mullaney was the catalyst for Notts to chalk up their second Royal London victory in three days at a dank Chester-le-Street today. He scored his last 74 runs in 40 balls and hit three successive sixes off Matt Dixon before being dismissed the next ball. The captain’s good work did not stop there, as he put in another economical 10 over spell and rotated his bowlers innovatively and superbly. He was confident enough to allow Matt Carter to bowl in the third power play and brave enough to leave Jake Ball only 2 overs to bowl out of the last 14. Durham will be kicking themselves having had Notts at 73 for five in the 16th over. Mullaney and Nash decided sensibly to nudge and nurdle adding 86. Mullaney then went into overdrive having been badly dropped by Dixon on 69. In the reply Durham despite losing Steel early were well placed. Skipper Tom Latham though having taken a liking to Chris Nash got carried away tamely hitting Nash to Taylor in the covers. Richardson and Smith consolidated but the run rate started to creep up and with a weak lower order they started to sink as a procession of batsman were caught in the deep in the vast outfield which is the Riverside. Matt Carter once again impressed with figures of 4 for 47 keeping calm in the dying overs. Notts now have to beat neighbours Derby on Thursday.

On a dark morning in front of a sparse crowd Durham won the toss and inserted Notts. The only team change was Billy Root for Jack Blatherwick. The pitch was the same one used on Friday for the runfest between Durham and Warwickshire. The home team rested Paul Collingwood as England returnee Mark Wood bowling from the Finchale End took a wicket with the first ball of day removing Wessels off and middle pegs via a Yorker. Moores had a lucky escape in Wood's third over edging him for four as first and second slip remained static. In the eighth over a fine diving catch running backwards by Michael Richardson at mid on saw Hales depart for 13, Rushworth the bowler, 26 for two. Notts added a further seven runs at the conclusion of the first power play. 

After a four over spell which cost 23 runs Wood was replaced by Essex loanee right armer Matt Dixon, Ross Taylor hitting him for three consecutive fours in an over costing 17. Chris Rushworth after six overs for 16 was replaced by Gareth Harte. A wild swish by Moores (22) saw him edge Harte's first ball into Poynter's gloves, 62 for 3. It got worse as the trademark Samit flick saw him depart caught at long leg by Rushworth off Dixon for eight, 71 for 4 in the 15th over. Ross Taylor then played on for 25 as Harte picked up his second wicket, 73 for five. Notts had lost three wickets in three overs. Chris Nash and Mullaney battened down the hatches the 100 coming up in the 26th over via a four through mid wicket off the returning Mark Wood. The 50 partnership between Mullaney and Nash took 16 overs as Notts were slowly consolidating. The floodlights were belatedly switched on after 37 overs. Ryan Pringle bowling from the Finchale End had Nash leg before for 40 (67 balls, 2 x 4). The sixth wicket had added 86 runs in 23 overs. Mullaney's 50 was brought up with a single off Harte off 77 balls, Notts 168 for 6 off 40 overs. Root (9) played a woeful reverse sweep off Pringle hitting the ball straight to Rushworth, 179 for seven. Pringle 10-0-39-2 had capitalised on the match situation with Notts losing 5 wickets in the first 16 overs. The game though was to take a dramatic turn. Dixon was hit for a six over cow corner by Mullaney the ball going near a posse of men dressed as bananas who clearly knew the Notts skipper and kept chanting his name throughout the contest. Mullaney was dropped on 69 at short third man by Matt Dixon off the unfortunate Rushworth. Dixon was moved as Fletcher (1) departed the very next ball caught in the same fielding position by Mark Wood, 192 for eight. Rushworth was the pick of the home attack with three for 39. 

As rain started to fall Dixon was hit for six by Mullaney over extra cover as the 200 came up in the 47th over. Mullaney had now exceeded 2000 List A career runs. Dixon having a poor game bowled a nine ball over including bowling Mullaney on a free hit. Mullaney hit an offside six off Rushworth and then followed it up with a four. Carter was then out leg before to Rushworth for 2, 222 for nine. Mullaney hit the hapless Dixon for three successive sixes before skying to Richardson. Notts 255 all out with three balls unused, Mullaney a magnificent List A best of 124 off 117 balls with 8 fours and 6 sixes. Dixon 9.4 overs 2 for 88. Notts had scored an amazing 62 in the last 3.4 overs of 5 their innings. Shame that the top order failed once more.

Fletcher (Finchale) and Ball (Lumley) opened up and in the sixth over Cameron Steel got a thin edge to Ball to depart for seven, 12 for one. Ball had taken his 100th List A wicket. 

The opening bowlers kept it tight as Durham were 26 for one after 10 overs. Patel and Mullaney replaced Ball and Fletcher. Clark and Richardson were batting sensibly as the 50 partnership came up in 13 overs. Clark hit Patel for an off side four but Samit got his revenge by bowling him next ball for 46, 67 for two in the 20th over. Nash came on from the Lumley End and was a hit for a straight six by Richardson off a free hit, Notts failing to have enough fielders in the circle the previous ball. Next over Carter was hit for six by Latham. The run rate was suddenly increasing but Nash got his man with Latham (28) hitting a delivery straight to Taylor at cover, 113 for three. A dreadful shot that disappointed the home crowd. Richardson got to a fine 50 off 77 balls. Nash 4 overs for 33 was replaced by Jake Ball as Notts now needed wickets with Durham on top at 135 for 3 off 31 overs. 

Ball was given a three over spell but no wicket was forthcoming, 13 coming off his eighth over. The 50 partnership between Richardson and Smith was achieved in 11 overs. Richardson holed out to Hales on the mid wicket ropes, Mullaney the bowler, 179 for 4 in the 33rd over. Richardson 68 off 99 balls with 2 fours and 1 six. Durham 185 for 4 off 40 overs. Poynter was caught at mid wicket by Taylor off Mullaney for 7, 190 for five off 41 overs. Mullaney having a magnificent game finished his 10 overs with 2 for 42. Former Notts man Will Smith perished caught at deep mid wicket by Wessels off Carter for 45, 202 for six in the 44th over. Harte was next to perish brilliantly caught low down to his right by Ross Taylor as Carter took his second wicket, 207 for seven. Mark Wood (6) sent the ball into orbit and Moores took a dolly catch, the first wicket for Fletcher, 218 for 8. Pringle hit a crisp 13 but found Wessels in the deep, another wicket for Carter. The batsman crossed and next ball Rushworth found Alex Hales in front of the Health Club. A fourth wicket for Carter. Game over, Durham 224 all out with 2 overs unused. Celebration time. Another match where Notts handled the pressure moments better than their opponents. MAG
Durham, not Jets, welcome back Mark Wood from England but rest Paul Collingwood and Nathan Rimmington.

The Durham squad includes a couple of players from the SET game last week at Grantham.

Graham Clark, 
Cameron Steel, 
Michael Richardson, 
Tom Latham (c), 
Will Smith, 
Stu Poynter (wk), 
Gareth Harte, 
Ryan Pringle, 
Ryan Davies, 
Mark Wood, 
Matt Dixon, 
Barry McCarthy,
Chris Rushworth, 
George Harding, 
Josh Coughlin


Same as you were Outlaws for the trip up north to Chester le Street

Riki Wessels

Chris Nash

Alex Hales

Ross Taylor

Samit Patel

Tom Moores

Billy Root

Steven Mullaney

Matt Carter

Matt Milnes

Luke Fletcher

Jack Blatherwick

Jake Ball