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Notts produced a tremendous fight back to beat Worcester by 38 runs in front of a large Friday crowd on a humid day at Trent Bridge. After scoring what looked a below par total of 202 on a sluggish pitch Notts needed early wickets. Fletcher and Ball delivered with the new ball as Worcester slumped to 28 for four in the 12th over. The game dynamic had suddenly changed. On a sluggish two paced pitch Worcester were then slowly suffocated to death by Mullaney and spin triplets Patel, Carter and Nash. Despite a fighting 63 partnership between Mitchell and Barnard the run rate remained challenging. Eventually Mitchell chipped Mullaney to mid wicket and with it the visitor’s hopes had all but gone. Fletcher returned to take the eighth and ninth wickets as he finished with career best List A figures of 4 for 20. He led the team off the field to great acclaim and a wrap around grin. Earlier Wessels and returnee Hales had batted well to add 44 against the new ball in the humid conditions and at one point Notts were 116 for two in the 22nd over. However after the departure of Wessels for 50 and then Taylor frustratingly for 47 Notts collapsed to a disappointing total as Moeen took a List A best of 4 for 33. However a tigerish display by Notts in the field turned the game round. Notts with seven points from six games will now probably need to win their remaining last two games to qualify for the knockout phase.
Worcestershire inserted Notts as Alex Hales came in for Billy Root. Hales and Wessels made a comfortable start against Leach (Pavilion End) and Morris (Radcliffe Road End) making 44 in the power play in testing conditions. However Barnard, replacing Leach, struck with his third ball getting Hales to play on for 21 (32 balls 3 x 4). Tom Moores (9) faced six balls and swiped two fours but drove Morris straight to Leach at mid on, 53 for two. The 100 came up in the 19th over as Wessels and Taylor tucked into Barnard and Brown. The 50 partnership came up in 46 balls as Moeen replaced Patrick Brown from the Radcliffe Road End. Wessels reached his 50 off 51 balls. Straight after Wessels cut Moeen onto his stumps, 50 off 52 balls with five fours. The third wicket had added 63 in 10 overs. Ross Taylor failed to push on once more as that match winning innings he undoubtedly has remains elusive (for now). He batted well but going for a cut was bowled as Moeen picked up his second wicket. Taylor 47 off 58 balls with five fours, 146 for four.
It got worse as five overs later Patel (20) going for a drive was deceived by d'Oliveira and was bowled for 20, 160 for five in the 33rd over. In the same over Mullaney was caught behind for seven, 163 for six.
Fletcher took advantage of a couple of half trackers from d'Oliveira and hitting him for two fours through mid wicket. The leg spinner taking 2 for 48 off his 10 overs. Notts 188 for six after 40 overs, but they faded away badly. Chris Nash a surprise choice ahead of Root looked short of confidence and lacked timing. It was no surprise when he mistimed Mitchell as Moeen took the catch. Nash gone for a 21 ball for 10, 188 for seven. Nash though was to make an important contribution later. Fletcher got to 22 off 33 balls but with Notts needing to bat 50 overs skied to square leg ropes where Ferguson took an easy catch, a third wicket for Moeen, 193 for eight. Matt Carter (1) threw his wicket way caught at deep square leg off Moeen, 199 for nine. Jake Ball (6) was bowled neck and crop by Mitchell for six. Notts 202 all out with 29 balls unused. Moeen coming back to form with 4 for 33 and he was well supported by d’Oliveira and Mitchell (5.1-0-19-2)..
Fletcher (Pavilion End) and Ball (Radcliffe Road End) opened up and in the fifth over, Joe Clarke (3) hit a short delivery from Fletcher straight to Nash at mid wicket, 13 for one. Next over Moeen (10) lost his off stump to a well pitched ball from Jake Ball, 13 for two.
Fletcher made Aussie Callum Ferguson mistimed a pull shot, the ball ballooning into Moores gloves. Ferguson 192 on Tuesday and six three days later, 21 for three. Worcestershire were 25 for three after the first power play. Patel in his second over dismissed d'Oliveira (5). The right hander hitting him straight to Carter at short extra cover, 28 for 4. Cox and Mitchell started to build a partnership as Patel after a five over spell for 13 from the Radcliffe Road End made way for Carter. Excellent captaincy saw the captain move himself to leg slip and Cox directed a ball from Carter into his hands. Cox gone for 17, 65 for five. Big hitter Ross Whiteley fell for three caught at mid on, the bowler Chris Nash with the last ball of his second over, 74 for six. Carter bowled well for five overs for 18 as Patel returned, Barnard hitting him for six over mid wicket, the only six of the game. The 100 came up in the 31st over. Mullaney returned as Mitchell got to 50 off 82 balls. It needed cool heads as Mitchell and Barnard were batting sensibly the 50 partnership coming in 82 balls. Mullaney (8-0-24-1) was giving nothing away with subtle changes of pace. Finally key man Mitchell chipped one up as Nash took the catch at mid wicket. Mitchell 62 off 99 balls with 4 fours. The seventh wicket had added 63 runs in 14 overs. Leach normally a gun slinger could not cope with the sluggish pitch and he departed for a 16 ball three caught at wide mid on by the skIpper off the returning Fletcher and he conceded just two off the over. Worcester 147 for eight after 43 overs. Carter (10-0-35-1) then conceded two in his last over. Fletcher and Patel continued to be frugal, Fletcher bowled Morris, 164 for nine with 21 balls left. Fletcher bowling over 47 bowled a wicket maiden. Two balls later it was all over as Patel (9.2-0-33-2) bowled Barnard for 36 (59 balls, 1 x 4, 1 x 6). Notts not for the first time had held their nerve under pressure. The match had been fascinating throughout and made a welcome change to the recent slogfests. Worcester faced 284 balls and hit a paltry nine fours and one six. Notts had delivered an amazing 174 (61.3%) dot balls. Jack Blatherwick making his second appearance did not bowl, scored two not out but fielded impressively in the deep. MAG
NOTTS OUTLAWS 202 vs WORCESTERSHIRE RAPIDS 164
Royal London One-Day Cup
1 June 2018 Trent Bridge - 50 over One Day
Toss won by: Worcestershire Rapids, who decided to Bowl
Umpires: NJ Long & PR Pollard
Scorers: R Marshall & PM Mellish
BATSMEN
R
B
M
4s
6s
MH Wessels
b MM Ali
50
52
84
5
0
AD Hales
b EG Barnard
21
32
37
3
0
TJ Moores†
c J Leach b CAJ Morris
9
6
6
2
0
LRPL Taylor
b MM Ali
47
58
58
5
0
SR Patel
b BL D'Oliveira
20
36
32
0
0
SJ Mullaney*
c OB Cox b BL D'Oliveira
7
12
17
0
0
CD Nash
c MM Ali b DKH Mitchell
10
21
25
0
0
LJ Fletcher
c CJ Ferguson b MM Ali
22
33
28
3
0
M Carter
c CJ Ferguson b MM Ali
1
5
12
0
0
JT Ball
b DKH Mitchell
6
7
14
1
0
JM Blatherwick
not out
2
9
7
0
0
Extras
(w 7)
7
Total
for 10 wickets in 45.1 overs
202
271
163
19
0
BOWLERS
O
M
R
W
ER
Wd
Nb
J Leach
5
0
25
0
5.00
2
0
CAJ Morris
7
0
35
1
5.00
0
0
EG Barnard
6
0
27
1
4.50
0
0
PR Brown
2
0
17
0
8.50
0
0
MM Ali
10
0
33
4
3.30
5
0
BL D'Oliveira
10
0
46
2
4.60
0
0
DKH Mitchell
5.1
0
19
2
3.68
0
0
FALL OF WICKETS
FOW: 1-44 (AD Hales, 10.3 ov), 2-53 (TJ Moores, 11.3 ov), 3-116 (MH Wessels, 21.6 ov), 4-146 (LRPL Taylor, 27.5 ov), 5-160 (SR Patel, 32.1 ov), 6-163 (SJ Mullaney, 32.6 ov), 7-188 (CD Nash, 40.2 ov), 8-193 (LJ Fletcher, 41.4 ov), 9-199 (M Carter, 43.2 ov), 10-202 (JT Ball, 45.1 ov)
MM Ali
b JT Ball
10
16
23
1
0
JM Clarke
c CD Nash b LJ Fletcher
3
11
17
0
0
CJ Ferguson
c TJ Moores b LJ Fletcher
6
18
21
1
0
DKH Mitchell
c LRPL Taylor b SJ Mullaney
62
99
113
4
0
BL D'Oliveira
c M Carter b SR Patel
5
8
12
0
0
OB Cox†
c SJ Mullaney b M Carter
17
32
33
2
0
RA Whiteley
c MH Wessels b CD Nash
3
10
11
0
0
EG Barnard
b SR Patel
36
59
76
1
1
J Leach*
c SJ Mullaney b LJ Fletcher
3
16
15
0
0
CAJ Morris
b LJ Fletcher
6
12
15
0
0
PR Brown
not out
0
3
4
0
0
Extras
(b 6, lb 3, w 4)
13
Total
for 10 wickets in 47.2 overs
164
284
172
9
1
BOWLERS
O
M
R
W
ER
Wd
Nb
LJ Fletcher
9
2
20
4
2.22
0
0
JT Ball
6
0
25
1
4.17
0
0
SR Patel
9.2
0
33
2
3.54
0
0
SJ Mullaney
8
0
24
1
3.00
1
0
M Carter
10
0
35
1
3.50
2
0
CD Nash
5
0
18
1
3.60
1
0
FALL OF WICKETS
FOW: 1-13 (JM Clarke, 4.2 ov), 2-13 (MM Ali, 5.1 ov), 3-21 (CJ Ferguson, 8.3 ov), 4-28 (BL D'Oliveira, 11.1 ov), 5-65 (OB Cox, 21.4 ov), 6-74 (RA Whiteley, 24.6 ov), 7-137 (DKH Mitchell, 38.4 ov), 8-145 (J Leach, 42.4 ov), 9-164 (CAJ Morris, 46.3 ov), 10-164 (EG Barnard, 47.2 ov)
Outlaws squad:
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
Friday sees the crucial (for Outlaws) home match against Rapids. Outlaws must put an end to the dismal home displays in the cup this season where both the batting and bowling departments have been in disarray. It's a bit of a pity that Outlaws didn't have fixtures for any other day over the half-term holiday to capitalise on Sunday's bumper-crowd interest with the kids.
Expected to return will be Alex Hales, who hasn't much form to bring into the game from the IPL, 128 runs from meagre 6 starts. Outlaws will be hoping for that kind of return from this game alone from our "specialist white ball player". Who will make way for Alex; Nash, Root or a bowler? Nevertheless, this is where Outlaws' season starts, beat Worcester, beat Durham and then slaughter Derby, that's what's required.
With Hales' return, we can look to our opponents who have Moeen Ali already returned and contributing to their cause, back from foreign parts. Also into the Rapids eleven will be Callum Ferguson (30 ODIs), coming to these shores early to replace Travis Head who will be on Aussie A duty. The Rapids will be fresh from an English record run chase of 377 which they completed with 16 balls to spare. Callum Ferguson scored 192 from 143 deliveries.
Led from the front by wannabe all rounder talisman Joe Leach, Rapids have the look of the group winners about them with adequate pace bowling with Leach, Tongue, Barnard and Morris but with the ability to take the pace off the ball with the wily Mitchell and D'Oliveira not to mention Ali, let's hope we can knock 'em down a peg or two.
As it stands at the moment, Notts can't chase and Worcester can chase whatever they need to - what do we do?
With Yorkshire's last ditch win at Derby on Wednesday, all isn't totally lost for Notts, but a win on Friday is imperative.
Bowlers win red ball games but batsmen generally win white ball format ? Personally speaking, I feel Roooty is better suited to the 4 day game and should have started this campaign after his heroics away at Hove last season. Assuming Hales or Baz(as the players call him, some Notts members have also got a few nicknames for him these days), do you persevere with Nash who HAS to start producing and play a strong batting unit by dropping the unlucky Carter, or keep the same balance as per Sunday's loss and Hales replaces one of the batsmen? Another dilemma is although Rooooty didn't field particularly well in the last game he is one of the more mobile fielders in the outfield and also offers a bowling option, so it's a tricky one for Mull and Moores ahead of such a vital game?
ReplyDeleteIs Hales really committed to Notts? It doesn't feel like it. Leave him out.
ReplyDeleteNotts are perhaps a means to an ends for Alex. He has to do well for Notts in order to put himself in the shop window for all of those T20 worldwide slogfests & for England too.
ReplyDeleteWell bowled Notts. Quite outstanding. I never thought that we had anything like enough runs, but every credit to get the best four Worcs batsmen out for only 28 runs. Fletcher is a star (he always gives his best) and Carter was impressive too, but well done to them all.
DeleteThe batting was pretty shambolic and needs to improve quickly if we are to progress. Once again, players got in but didn't push on to make big scores. I have no idea what Moores was doing today with his batting. He doesn't seem to be taking his opportunity, but at least Daddy is the coach :) Did he not realise it was a 50 over game? A dreadful shot after only a handful of balls.
Chris Nash looks a poor signing. I fail to see what he offers the batting unit at present. The tail is too long with Fletcher coming in at 8. I felt sorry for Blatherwick for not having a bowl today, and Root for not playing at all. We could have done with an extra batsman today. It may take some pressure off the top 7 too?
Overall, we dodged a bullet today, with a superb bowling display. The batting must improve.
A great bowling perforance by Outlaws, well skippered (see below)
DeleteWhat an amazing turnaround at half time by the bowling and fielding units as despite the ball not coming onto the bat so well, it still looked under par by some distance. A situation no batting team wants to be in with a long tail and overs to bat out and accumulate every run and try to see out the 50 overs.Brilliant effort from BIG Fletch and impressive debut follow up by Carter also aided by some particularly fine fielding by Ross Taylor. Assume total was just too low to risk the inexperienced Blatherwick but team selection a little perplexing to play a bowler at no11 and not trust his bowling, surely if Milnes is not their preferred choice either, then better to just play an extra batsman who will at least have an effect on the game ? Assuming the northeast weather is ok, most will fancy our chances against this Durham team, so it could be all set up for a big showdown against Derbyshire on Thursday ?
ReplyDeleteI agree, ifthey're not going to bowl JB, why not play Billy Root instead. But, it was a good win.
Delete"Captaincy-wise he had an outstanding day. There were some slightly different fields where he'd have two men on the drive," he said.
ReplyDelete"It got a dismissal. He put himself around the corner and it got a dismissal.
"Most bowling changes worked. He won't have many better days as a captain."