Worcestershire Specsavers CC1 Day/Night at Trent Bridge Draw

Day 4

STALEMATE AT TRENT BRIDGE

as Joe Clarke proves to be immovable 

Worcestershire escaped with a draw at Trent Bridge finishing with 8 wickets down on a day of hard toil for the depleted Notts attack in energy sapping conditions. The combination of the featherbed pitch and the horrendous pink ball, ensured only 31 wickets fell in 4 days. Hero for the visitors was Joe Clarke with a chanceless 177 not out off 214 balls with 23 fours. Notts who lost Broad after lunch with a foot injury had earlier suffered another blow by the loss for Moores behind the stumps, Wessels taking over the gloves and performing well. Notts were unlucky not to get Clarke leg before when on 70, Nash the unfortunate bowler. Libby took a screamer of a catch to remove d'Oliveira, but then dropped a sitter from Cox, who went on to bat a further 15 overs. The new ball was taken straight after tea with Worcester five down but Notts could only chisel out another further three wickets before the close as the brilliant Clarke and obdurate Twohig batted 22 overs to frustrate Notts.

Worcestershire took 17 off the first two overs by Milnes and Gurney, but then Milnes bowled two successive maidens. In the sixth over of the day, Gurney bowled leg side delivery that Mitchell (33) tickled into Moores gloves, 62 for one. Milnes was bowling well and eventually got his reward when Guptill (33) drove him straight to Ross Taylor at short mid off, 74 for 2. Fell was finding it a struggle constantly playing and missing but Clarke looked a lot more self assured as the 100 came in the 30th over with Broad and Fletcher were now bowling. There was a long stoppage as Moores was hit on the upper chest standing up to a delivery from Fletcher, he continued following treatment. Patel replaced Broad from the Pavilion End. Broad seemed to carrying an injury and was ineffective. Clarke was accelerating; the 50 partnership wit has Fell taking just 67 balls. Nash came on for Fletcher from the Radcliffe Road End 15 minutes before the first interval. Moores could not continue and Wessels took over the gloves after 44 overs. Fell's luck finally ran out edging Nash into Wessels gloves, Nash taking 10 balls to take the wicket. Fell had taken 68 balls for his 26. Worcestershire at the first interval 151 for 3 off 48 overs with Clarke on 39 and d'Oliveira on 12.

Notts started session two with same attack as session 1 namely Gurney and Milnes. Stuart Broad failing to take the field of play and never reappearing. Giving Notts a major headache. In the third over after the break d'Oliveira (14) was brilliantly caught by Libby at point diving low to his right, Gurney the bowler, 156 for four. Then four overs Libby fielding in the identical position dropped a sitter off the same bowler, Cox on 8 the lucky batsman. Joe Clarke got to an excellent 50 off 72 balls with a single off Gurney. After a four over spell Milnes was replaced at the Radcliffe Road End by Patel. Notts juggled their bowlers in search of wicket number 5. Clarke on 70 appeared to be extremely fortunate survive a leg before shout from bowler Nash, Blackwell refusing to raise the finger. The skipper on the day had more wicket taking threat than Patel. After a stand of 56 in 18 overs, Fletcher removed Cox (27) who hit a delivery low and straight to Root at short cover, 212 for five. Fletcher bowling deep into the session. The final 20 minutes before tea saw a combination of Nash and Patel and then for the final over Root as Worcestershire went to tea on 248 for 5 after 83 overs with Clarke on 99 not out and Whiteley on 5.

The new ball was taken by Milnes and Gurney straight after tea with 32 overs remaining. The crowd was now small with the England match kicking off. A four through the covers saw Clarke to 100 in 157 balls with 12 fours. After a stand of 20 overs, Ross Whiteley was dismissed caught behind by Wessels off Gurney with 26 overs remaining. The seam bowlers though without Broad were knackered and try as they might could not make a breakthrough. Nash had to turn to Patel and himself before Fletcher and Gurney returned for a final burst. Clarke got to 150 in 97 balls. The 7th wicket stand lasted 22 overs with Ben Twohig facing 100 balls. Finally with 25 balls left Twohig (35) was bowled by Fletcher to a delivery that kept low. Twelve balls later, Pennington became Fletcher’s 300th first class victim when edging a leg side ball as Wessels took his third catch of the innings. Twelve balls remained with the field all round bat Gurney had 6 balls at Clarke who helped himself to two fours. Charlie Morris easily survived the last five balls from Fletcher as hands were shook at 2101 hours. Worcester 368 for eight. Fletcher and Gurney shared 6 wickets between them and must have been completely exhausted. Young Milnes bowled well in his 24 overs but lacked pace to be a threat on a very disappointing pitch which was very disappointingly far too slow. The floodlight experience despite the glorious weather will not linger long in the memory. A straw poll of spectators all agreed that the Notts decision not to enforce follow on was 100% correct and the injury to Broad further enforced this belief. Notts remain second in the table.MAG Day 3

NOTTS STRUGGLE TO MAKE BREAKTHROUGH

after Libby ton helps set target

On a wicket that is getting slower and lower Worcestershire closed on 43 without loss still requiring a further 419 runs to win. Notts now face a hard task to win this fixture having failed to take a wicket in the 19 overs available last night. Up to then it had been a good day for Notts they bowled Worcester out for 287; taking the last 3 wickets in 68 minutes in the morning session then scored 249 for 4 declared which included the first ton of the season for Jake Libby and fifties for Patel and Wessels. Unfortunately in the 75 minutes that remained Notts bowlers created little wicket taking threat. If Worcestershire show little inclination in chasing their victory target Notts will find it extremely difficult to bowl them out on the somnolent pitch. The pink ball gets increasingly difficult to get away after around 40 overs as it gets soft very quickly. Worcestershire skipper D’Oliveira cannily turned to himself, Mitchell and Twohig to slow the scoring rate down yesterday.

Worcestershire added 72 runs in 19 overs to their overnight score. In the fifth over of the day, Pennington (16) having survived a leg before shout the previous ball was dismissed plumb leg before to Gurney, 234 for eight. Next over a no ball from Broad was hooked for a six over long leg by Whiteley. The belligerent Whiteley got to 50 in 42 balls as he pulled a short delivery from Gurney for 4. After a three over spell for 18 runs Broad was replaced by Fletcher from the Pavilion End. In Gurney's next over Whiteley hooked him for six over square leg into the Fox Road Stand. After a single over, Patel replaced Fletcher. After seven Gurney overs, Fletcher changed ends. The skIpper was rotating his pack on the lifeless pitch, he brought himself on for the 72nd as the 50 partnership between Whiteley and Morris was achieved in 91 balls. In his second over, Nash bowled Whiteley for 71 ball 76 (7 x 4, 2 x 6). Notts had fed Whiteley a diet of short pitched balls and he had capitalised. The ninth wicket had added 53. Magoffin lasted four balls until he became Nash's second victim leg before for a blob. Worcester 287 all out off 74 overs. Gurney 4 for 97.

Notts led by 212 runs and elected to bat again. Chris Nash(1) lasted three balls being dismissed leg before in the 2nd over bowled by Dillon Pennington (Pavilion End), 1 for 1. Twohig and Morris replaced Magoffin and Pennington but Notts got to the first interval without any further mishaps on 44 for one off 11 overs with Libby on 17 and Patel on 26.

The 50 partnership between Libby and Patel was achieved in 70 balls. After 16 overs keeper Ben Cox went off injured and was replaced by Joe Clarke. Four overs later Patel got to a 73 ball half century. Notts were accelerating Patel hit Mitchell for six over mid wicket as Notts 100 came up in the 24th over. Patel then drove Twohig low straight to Martin Guptill at extra cover who took the catch. Patel 71 off 108 balls with five fours and 1 six, 122 for two. Ross Taylor (1) in his last innings for Notts lasted three balls before being bowled by the wily Mitchell, 123 for three. This double blow had the effect of temporarily slowing Notts down. Jake Libby got to his 50 in 88 balls with two fours. His running between the wickets had been excellent. Twohig and Mitchell had done a fine job of restricting the scoring, the pink ball going soft very quickly. Pennington had Billy Root (13) leg before with his third ball, 144 for 4. Root had scratched around for 36 balls before he fell. Notts got to tea on 176 or 4 off 46 overs with Libby on 65 and Wessels on 20.

Notts needed fast runs after tea and added a further 73 runs in 9.2 overs and Wessels hit Pennington for a square leg six into the Fox Road. The 50 partnership between Libby and Wessels took 46 balls. Wessels innings was just what Notts needed 50 off 35 balls. A four through the covers by Libby saw the 100 stand in 83 balls. Libby got to his ton with a single off Pennington off 140 balls with 6 fours. Notts immediately declared on 249 for four. Libby 100 not out off 144 balls with 6 fours his first ton of the season and the first one at Trent Bridge since his debut 100 against Sussex four years ago. Wessels who played himself back into form in the first innings 57 not out off 40 balls with 6 fours and 1 six. Worcestershire’s ground fielding was once again outstanding.

Worcestershire needed 462 to win; one more than Notts successfully achieved in their famous run chase at New Road in 2001. New ball pair Broad and Fletcher could not make a breakthrough although Fletcher was unlucky when a perfect Yorker was just kept out by Mitchell; a lesser batsman would not been as fortunate. Gurney replaced Broad from the Pavilion End for the ninth over but with Milnes now in tandem. Broad had had running repairs on his ankle pitch side during the play. Mitchell (19 not out) and Guptill (18 not out) had little trouble in seeing Worcestershire to the close of 43 for 0. Gurney having problems with his line drifting down leg side too much. Notts desperately need early inspiration as the sweltering conditions are set to continue today. MAG

Day 2

TWILIGHT WICKETS LEAVE NOTTS IN A STRONG POSITION

Notts finished the second day in a position of strength leading by 284 runs with Worcester having three first innings wickets remaining at sweltering Trent Bridge. Notts added 163 runs to their overnight score aided by a quick fire half century for Tom Moores and a welcome half ton from Riki Wessels. Then on the easy paced pitch they managed to dismiss seven Pears batsman, four late on in the twilight zone; where once again conditions changed dramatically and which added an element of farce to the proceedings. The Notts seamers bowled well with Gurney the stand out with three wickets. There were two each for Fletcher and Broad. Martin Guptill was guilty of throwing his wicket away, Mitchell and Fell both fell to good catches behind the wicket off excellent balls. Then conditions started to change, Star man Clarke perished leg before to Fletcher, Cox briefly lost sight of a ball from Gurney and was bowled, D’Oliveira edged to slip and finally Twohig played on groping in the gloom. The late start probably reduced the crowd by roughly a third and then despite another glorious night, the crowd slowly drifted away; the floodlight experiment a massive turn off for the public. Assuming Notts get a lead of 150 plus they will be left with a dilemma of whether to enforce the follow on or bat again. Evidence from the last two days suggests batting in the last session of the day is much more a tricky proposition compared to the first two sessions. By batting again a teatime declaration could prove interesting.

The 350 came up in the 102nd over bowled by Pennington (Pavilion End) via a four through extra cover off a no ball by Tom Moores. Wessels were slowly out of blocks but a leg side four off a Magoffin from him brought up the 50 partnership in 88 balls. Moores was playing an aggressive innings hitting Twohig for a six into to the Pavilion seats. Another six followed from Moores' flashing blade in Twohig's next over, this time over extra cover which saw Moores to his 50 in 60 balls. With five required off two balls to gain the last batting point Moores lost his middle stump to Whiteley. Moores 56 off 71 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes, 395 for six off 110 overs. Moores getting better every game, The 400 came up in the 114th over. Notts reached the first interval on 445 for 6 off 126 overs with Wessels on 43 and Broad on 23. Notts had scored 109 runs in the session with Wessels scoring a mere 31 of them. The 50 partnership for the seventh wicket came up in 97 balls.

Notts batted for a further 35 minutes after dinner. Wessels got to his 50 in the first over after the interval in 110 balls. Broad then caught at mid wicket by Guptill off d'Oliveira for 23 (40 balls with 1 four), 455 for seven, a partnership of 60 with Wessels. Fletcher (13) hit d'Oliveira for six over mid wicket but departed caught at long off by Whiteley in the same over, 484 for eight. Milnes was bowled Mitchell for three and Notts immediately declared at 499 for 9 declared. Riki Wessels 75 not out off 127 balls (9 x 4). Worcestershire bowlers had toiled on the unhelpful wicket but had fielded well throughout despite the searing unrelenting heat. Magoffin was the leading bowler with three for 70.

Initially Worcestershire made easy progress against Broad (Pavilion End) and Fletcher (Radcliffe Road End) standing at 24 for 0 at 8 overs. A horrible poke outside off stump saw Guptill (28) hitting a ball from Gurney straight to Milnes at point, 43 for one in the 11th over. Twenty runs later Gurney induced Mitchell (18) to edge him to Wessels at first slip who took a sharp slip catch with the ball coming at him with some pace. Milnes bowled a good six over spell from the Radcliffe Road End without reward. After seven overs and two wIckets for 28 Gurney was replaced by Patel who bowled the last over before tea. Worcestershire 96 for two off 23 overs with Fell on 22 and Clarke on 20.

Patel switched ends after tea. Fletcher came on from the Pavilion End and Tom Fell (25) was brilliantly caught low down by Moores off the Bomber, 107 for three. Clarke became Fletcher's second victim departing leg before for 40, 128 for four. Cox and d'Oliviera added 45 for the fifth wicket but with the onset of dusk Broad and Gurney returned. Three wickets were to fall. Ben Cox appeared to temporarily lose sight of a delivery from Gurney and was bowled for 25. With 7 overs left, D'Oliveira edged Broad to Nash at second slip, 189 for six. Then Ben Twohig got an inside edge to a Broad delivery and played on for 2, 195 for seven. No more wickets were lost as stumps were finally drawn at 2142, by then the majority of the crowd had long since gone home.MAG

Day 1

NOTTS LOSE THEIR WAY IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE

AFTER A NEAR CHANCELESS FIRST 88 OVERS WHERE LIBBY, NASH AND PATEL HELD FULL CONTROL

Aussie Vet bites Notts back with second new ball

At 310 for one in the 87th over, Notts looked in a superb position having been put in on the hottest day of the summer at TB last night. Worcester though cannily waited 8 overs to take the second new ball and a devastating burst of 3 for 0 off 5 balls by veteran seamier Steve Magoffin turned the game on its head. Leading the way for Notts was stand-in skipper Chris Nash slowly coming out of his lean spell who scored a chanceless 139; he was well supported by season’s best of 88 from Jake Libby and 76 from Samit Patel. The opening pair added 164, then Nash and Patel joined forces to add a further 146. Nash fell to the part time off spin of Martin Guptill, then came that burst from Magoffin who loves playing at Trent Bridge. Patel was dismissed by a corker of delivery that demolished his stumps then Root followed caught behind next ball. Then a poor shot from Ross Taylor saw him register his fourth duck of the season being caught in the slips. Worcester were fielding a threadbare attack missing their main three bowlers Ed Barnard, Josh Tongue and Joe Leach who is out for the season. Jack Shantry meanwhile had announced his retirement from the first class cricket yesterday with a back complaint. In their place were Magoffin, spinner Ben Twohig and first class debutant Dillon Pennington, all three having played earlier this month against Notts seconds at Stourbridge. This floodlight encounter was played in glorious conditions, but the experiment appears to flopping once more; the ECB not listening to the comments of players and spectators who blew the largest of raspberries to the experiment last year. It failed to attract a larger audience and the crowd drifted away after 1800 hours with little sign of workers arriving late on. There were no real problems sighting the pink ball, but it was noticeable that apart from during twilight the pink ball failed to deviate off the straight and narrow on what was a featherbed pitch.


The toss was uncontested as Worcester inserted Notts on a green strip. Stuart Broad returned to the side in place of Matt Carter. Notts made relatively untroubled progress against the new ball pair of veteran Steve Magoffin and novice Dillon Pennington. After reaching 35 for 0 after nine overs, Charlie Morris replaced Dillon Pennington from the Pavilion End. The 50 opening partnership came up in 83 balls via a four through mid wicket by Libby off Morris. Magoffin bowled an opening spell of 8 overs for 24 and then on came Pennington once more having switched ends. With Worcester struggling for a breakthrough Ben Twohig came on for the 18th over with his slow left arm spin. In his third over Twohig was hit for a straight six into the Committee Balcony by Jake Libby. A lofted four off Twohig's next over saw Libby get to 50 off 84 balls. Libby playing with more aggression than he has shown previously. After 26 overs Ross Whiteley came on with his left arm seam. The 100 partnership came on the stroke of the first interval in 184 balls. Notts 100 for 0 off 31 overs at the interval with Libby on 57 and Nash on 37. It appeared that Worcester had made the wrong decision to insert Notts.

After the interval Magoffin and Morris were bowling in tandem, but the Aussie made way for Pennington at the Radcliffe Road End. Notts were grinding out runs, Nash getting to his 50 with a boundary off Pennington. The 150 partnership was achieved in the 43rd over as Nash hit Pennington for successive fours. In the 50th over Libby edged Twohig to Mitchell at first slip who took a smart catch. Libby 88 off 170 balls with 10 fours and one six, 164 for one. Skipper Brett D’Oliveira replaced Magoffin after a 7 over spell from the Radcliffe Road End. Nash greeted him with a four to take Notts to their first batting point in the 59th over. Notts got to tea on 209 for one off 64 overs with Nash on 99 and Patel on 15. A total of 109 runs in the 33 over session.

The sky was still cloudless as players returned with the ridiculous situation of the floodlights being on. Patel brought up the 50 partnership in 90 balls with Nash with a four off Pennington. A pushed single wide of mid on Mitchell brought up Chris Nash's maiden ton for Notts off 176 balls. Nash was clearly elated of getting the monkey of his back and celebrated his 100 extravagantly. Notts began to accelerate and the 250 being achieved in the 72nd over. Patel reached 50 off 87 balls with an edged four off Twohig, 44 of which had come via boundaries. Next over Nash guided a four through third man of Charlie Morris to bring up the 100 partnership. Guptill came on as the eighth bowler and in his second over Patel hit him for a four through the covers as the 300 came up in the 85th over. In his next over the Kiwi got Nash plumb leg before for 139 off 225 balls with 21 fours. A fine innings that deserved its standing ovation from what was now a fairly sparse crowd. The second wicket had added 146, Notts 310 for 2 in the 87th over. The moon had appeared in the sky to the amusement of the TB sky gazers and the new ball was taken belatedly after 88 overs at 2030 and the game took a sudden unexpected twist. It had an immediate impact as Patel was yorked for 76 off 128 with 14 fours by Magoffin with his third delivery with the new pink ball, 311 for three. A magic ball. Next ball Root was caught behind for a golden duck, 311 for four. In his next over Magoffin had Taylor caught by Whiteley at slip for a duck, 312 for five. A poor shot flashing outside off stump. Wessels (12 not out) and Moores (8 not) saw Notts through to the close without any more mishaps as they went to stumps at 336 for five. The pitch looks a belter with a score of 450 to 500 looking par. Notts will be hoping that their stronger attack will be more effective and will also be hoping to cash in on the twilight zone at the latter end of today. MAG