Essex Specsavers CC1 at Trent Bridge Day Loss

Day 4

ESSEX CANTER TO VICTORY

Notts suffer a fourth thrashing in five games

It took Essex just 118 minutes to canter to an easy 8 wicket victory over Notts in bright sunshine at Trent Bridge this morning. Both the overnight batsman got to their tons with Tom Westley 110 not out (198 balls – 19 x 4) and Murali Vijay being bowled by Patel for 100. The second wicket adding 204 runs in 55 overs. This was Notts fourth thrashing in five games as once again the powder puff Notts attack failed to make any impression. Notts now have 11 days before their last game against Somerset, hopefully aching bodies can get a rest.

Mullaney and Fletcher opened the bowling. The second over of the morning Westley got to his 50 off 101 balls. The 150 partnership took 242 balls. Fletcher resorted to bowling short in the hope of buying a wicket but to no avail. The 200 came up in the 53rd over. Next over Wood replaced Fletcher from the Pavilion End. Patel then replaced Mullaney. A leg side single off Wood saw Murali Vijay to his 100 off 173 balls, the 200 partnership being reached off the same ball. In the 23rd over of the morning got Patel yorked Vijay for 100 (181 balls off 15 x 4), 221 for 2. The wayward Footitt came on next over; alas there was no real improvement from him. An offside four for Westley off Patel saw him to 100 in 193 balls. The 50 partnership for the third wicket came up in 51 balls and eventually reached an unbroken 61 in 9 overs as Westley finished with 110 and Lawrence 29, Essex 282 for two off 69.4 overs.

The Notts attack rarely looked like taking a wicket. Patel failed to real turn the ball in total contrast to the outstanding Harmer. Footitt could not be trusted by his captain until late on in the proceedings and produced another disappointing spell. Hopefully Gurney will be fit for game 14. I would also like to see Jack Blatherwick given a run out, adding more pace to the attack. Unfortunately Kraigg Brathwaite is not available for the Somerset game, he leaves with an impressive record of 296 runs @ 42.29. Let’s hope that Notts have enough energy to just get over the line. Those with long memories will remember the Sussex game in 2006 where Notts needing two points to stay up, gained just one and were relegated. There is no room for any complacency! MAG

Day 3

HARMER TURNS MATCH IN ESSEX'S FAVOUR

with visitors now looking set for victory

An excellent performance from Essex off spinner Simon Harmer taking 6 for 87 off 29 overs coupled with unbroken stand of 130 for the 2nd wicket between Murali Vijay (73*) and Tom Westley (45*) ensured that the away team enter the last day in an extremely dominant position. Chasing 282 to win, Essex closed on 147 for one needing a further 135 runs for victory. Notts at one stage were standing at 161 for one but the combination of Harmer extracting turn from the pitch and some indifferent batting meant that Notts failed to set Essex a more challenging target. Notts without Ball, Broad and Gurney lack a wicket taking bowler. Fletcher bowled wholeheartedly and Wood was the pick of the bowlers with 7 overs for 21, but Notts attack looked pretty impotent during the 38 overs that Essex batted during the final session. Patel bowled five overs without getting any to turn. A fourth defeat in five games seems almost inevitable.

In the second over of the day, Brathwaite hit an offside four off Porter to bring up his 50 off 117 balls. A lofted four by Brathwaite off Harmer (Pavilion End) saw Notts to 150 in the 48th over. A legside four by Fletcher off Quinn brought up the 50 partnership in 106 balls. Next over Harmer got one to turn and Brathwaite was leg before for 68 off 148 balls (12 x 4), 161 for two. The second wicket had added 53 runs. Harmer picked up his second leg before of the morning as Fletcher's 122 ball innings came to an end on 39, 194 for three. Fletcher showing the application, missing from some of his colleagues that were to follow him. Jake Libby never looked settled all at sea against Harmer who was getting plenty of turn. He played back to a ball from the off spinner and was bowled for 15, 199 for four. Next over a four through the covers by Duckett off Coles saw Notts to 200 in the 69th over. Duckett had a lucky escape edging Harmer through slip for four. Notts 208 for four at lunch off 71 overs with Duckett on 12 and Mullaney on 1.

Tom Westley came on straight after lunch bowling off spin from the Pavilion End as Harmer changed ends. In his second over after lunch Harmer was hit for six over mid wicket by Mullaney. Duckett fell leg before to the part time spin of Westley for 17, 222 for five. Matt Coles took the new ball from the Pavilion End with Notts 242 for five after 81 overs. Next over Mullaney pulled Porter for four bringing up the 250. Tom Moores and Mullaney reached the 50 partnership for the 6th wicket off 52 balls as Notts attacked against the new ball. Simon Harmer came back from the Pavilion End for the 88th over. Moores (15) foolishly charged down the pitch to Harmer and was stumped by a country mile, 290 for 6, 68 had been added for the 6th wicket. In the same over a single for Mullaney brought up his 50 off 66 balls. Mullaney tickled Harmer into Wheater's gloves, the skipper gone for 53 (71 balls, 6 x 4, 1 x 6), 299 for seven. The 300 was achieved in the 93rd over. James was dropped at first slip on 4 off Quinn by Murali Vijay, but did not prove costly. Harmer picked up his sixth wicket as James (13) was caught bat pad at short leg by ten Doeschate, 315 for eight. Patel was adjudged leg before by umpire Cook for 11, Porter the bowler, the ball looking like it going down the leg side, 331 for nine. Footitt was caught behind by Wheater off Porter for 4. Wood 14 not out. Notts 337 all out had lost their last nine wickets for 176. Harmer getting a lot of turn 6 for 87. Tea was taken between the innings with 38 overs remaining.

Essex required 282 to win in bright sunshine. Browne cover drove the first ball of the innings from Fletcher (Radcliffe Road End) for four, a portent for what was to follow. In the sixth over Footitt got Browne leg before for 11, 17 for one in the 6th over. Footitt though was far too erratic and bowling too many no balls, the captain withdrawing him from the attack after 4 overs. With Essex 40 for one after nine overs, Mullaney came on from the Pavilion End. Westley hit Mullaney for consecutive fours through the covers as the 50 came up in the 12th over. Fletcher bowled 8-2-17-0 in his spell. Mullaney after 3 overs made way for Wood as he decided to change ends, but Notts could not stem the runs Westley and Vijay adding 50 in 72 balls. The skIpper kept himself on too long conceding 35 runs in 8 overs. He made way for Lyndon James (3-0-14-0). Essex stood at 104 for one after 29 overs when Patel was belatedly brought on. Vijay got to his second fifty of the match off 100 balls. Fletcher returned as 100 partnership came up in 168 balls. Libby came on for a twirl from the Radcliffe Road End with 2 overs remaining. Stumps were drawn at 1814 with Essex 147 for one. They scored at 3.87 RPO and rarely looked troubled. It will be a major shock if they do not complete victory around lunch time tomorrow, their first championship victory at TB since 2003. All attention is now on the match at Leeds where Lancashire need a further 121 runs to win but with only three second innings wickets still standing. Assuming the White Rose triumph and Notts lose, Lancashire would enter the final round 19 points behind Notts. Notts record in September is horrendous with just 2 wins in their last 28 games played; it’s certainly looks like it will be squeaky bum time. MAG

Day 2

NOTTS TAKE LEAD 

in spite of drops and drizzle

Notts had the better of the truncated second day as they closed on 116 for one, leading Essex by 60 runs. Essex added 100 runs to the overnight total in 29.1 overs, frustratingly adding 59 for their final two wIckets. Mullaney was the pick of the bowlers finishing with 4 for 68. Mark Footitt didn't bowl today and Lyndon James was only given three overs as Luke Wood captured the final two wIckets. Notts with a deficit of 56 batted superbly in the early evening sunshine as they only lost a single wicket as Brathwaite and Slater added 108 for the first wicket against the testing Essex bowlers, Coles bowling particularly well. They have though crucially seen off the new ball having faced 37 overs. With good weather forecast for the remaining two games, Notts will be looking for a lead in excess of 300 to set Essex a testing target on the easing wicket.

After morning drizzle play got under way at 1330 with 29 overs lost. With the third ball of the day Fletcher (Pavilion End) removed Porter leg before for 8, 134 for six. Wheater was dropped first ball by Brathwaite at first slip; a half chance above his head. Patel dropped a regulation catch at second slip off Fletcher, Wheater on 6 at the time. In the 10th over of the day Wheater (14) after two lives was finally caught as he edged Mullaney into Moores gloves, 163 for seven. In his next over, a well pitched pitch ball by Mullaney removed ten Doeschate leg before for 32, 174 for 8. A four through mid wicket by Harmer gave Essex the lead. After an eight overs spell Fletcher was replaced by James. Harmer hit a boundary off James to bring up the 200 in the 56th over. Next over, Wood replaced Mullaney. The ninth wicket added an invaluable 32 before Wood receiving great encouragement from Fletcher at mid on removed Coles leg before for 9, 206 for nine. Fletcher replaced James from the Pavilion End. The last wicket added 27 before Harmer played on to Wood for 48, virtually all his runs being scored on the leg side. Essex 233 all out, Essex led by 56 runs. Mullaney 4 for 68, James 3 for 54. Four catches had been put out down during the innings. Tea was taken between the innings.

Notts had 37 overs to negotiate as the sun was now shining. Brathwaite and Slater put 50 on in 67 balls seeing off the Essex opening attack of Porter and Quinn. Coles bowled a testing spell from the Pavilion End beating Slater outside off stump on a regular basis. Bopara came on for the 17th over from the Radcliffe Road End but only bowled two overs. Harmer had his first bowl in the 22nd over. Ben Slater reached 50 off 83 balls with a four through third man off Porter. Essex made numerous attempts to change the ball to no avail. The 100 partnership was achieved in 179 balls with a four through third man by Brathwaite. Slater fell leg before for 54 (89 balls – 9 x 4) as Coles picked up a deserved wicket, 108 for one in the 32nd over. Luke Fletcher came in at three and batted out the remaining five overs to finish on 6 not out. Brathwaite once again did his job and remained there on 47 not out off 115 balls with eight fours as Notts were 116 for one at the close at 1825. The game and the season is very much in the balance MAG
Day 1

DEBUTANTS MAKE THEIR MARK

Murali Vijay with the bat and Lyndon James with the ball

It was tales of the unexpected on an autumnal day at Trent Bridge with 15 wickets falling and 310 runs being scored. Both teams clearly wanted to bat first after Essex decided they wanted a toss at 10.00. However with the ball moving about all day and with some signs of uneven bounce it was very much a bowlers day. Notts were bowled out for 177; once more failing to obtain a batting point in a very disappointing effort. From a Essex perspective, a good toss to lose. At one stage Notts stood at 104 for eight, this despite a 50 stand for third wicket between top scorer Ben Slater (33) and Ben Duckett (21). An unlikely last wicket stand of 45 between Fletcher (30) and Footitt (21 not out) kept Essex in the field for over an hour. When Essex batted, Indian Test opener Murali Vijay on his Essex debut was dropped by Moores when he had yet to get off the mark, but with Browne, added 56 for the first wicket. However Mullaney bowling in tandem with debutant Lyndon James tore through the Essex batting taking five wickets between them including 3 in 11 balls. The 19 year old James (born Worksop) had a debut to remember picking up three wickets and also having Vijay dropped at mid on. The tall right arm medium pacer was getting plenty of bounce to trouble all the Essex batters and bowled nine overs on the trot at the end of the day taking three for 34. James who opens the batting for the seconds took three for nought against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens last week. Mullaney after suffering from back problems bowled 13 consecutive overs to finish with two for 33. 

Notts won the toss and elected to bat on a cool cloudy morning. Notts made two changes with Luke Fletcher coming in for Harry Gurney, and there was a first class debut for former Oakham School pupil Lyndon James who came in for Matt Milnes. Kraigg Brathwaite fell leg before to the second ball of the innings bowled by Jamie Porter from the Radcliffe Road End, 0 for one. In the ninth over Libby (9) half forward to a well pitched up ball lost his off stump to Porter, 16 for two. Libby looking uncertain throughout his 24 ball innings. Matt Quinn bowled a good spell from the Pavilion End, conceding 6 runs in 6 overs. Harmer replaced him for the 14th over. Matt Coles replaced Porter (7-2-26-2). A lofted drive by Duckett off Coles brought up the 50 in the 17th over. The 50 partnership between Slater and Duckett came up in 62 balls. In the same over Coles got a ball to move and found the edge of Duckett's bat, the left hander caught behind for 21, 66 for three. Next over Slater (33 off 70 balls with 4 fours) played on to Coles, 67 for four. Harmer after a four over spell was replaced by Porter who had switched ends. Quinn replaced Coles and poor shot from Mullaney(3) saw him caught by Wheater, 74 for five. Notts got to lunch on 82 for five off 29 overs with Patel on 7 and Moores on 6.

In the second over after lunch Tom Moores was leg before to Kiwi Quinn for seven, 91 for six. Another poor shot saw Patel (19) caught at second slip by Harmer off Quinn, 96 for seven. A cover driven boundary for Wood off Quinn saw Notts to 100 in the 37th over. James on his debut was caught at third slip by Lawrence off Coles for 1, 104 for eight. Wood hit a bright and breezy 27 off 30 balls (5 x 4) but departed comprehensively bowled by Porter, 132 for nine. The 150 was achieved via a six to cow corner by Fletcher off Coles in the 46th over. Footitt hit Harmer for a huge six over square leg. The tenth wicket eventually added 45 runs in 16 overs until Fletcher was caught at mid on by ten Doeschate off Porter for 30. Notts 177 all out off 58.1 overs. Footitt 21 not out. Porter 4 for 50, Quinn 3 for 37, Coles 3 for 62. Essex had bowled well, bowling very few bad balls, Porter in particular standing out. Notts crucially lost Brathwaite and Libby earlier exposing their cavalier middle order to the new ball in bowler friendly conditions, and Essex had taken full advantage. Tea was taken between the innings.

Essex had to face 37 overs. Vijay was dropped on 0 in the second over, Moores spilling an effort low to his right off Footitt (Pavilion End). Essex saw the new ball pairing of Fletcher and Footitt off with relative ease, standing at 39 for 0 off 12 overs. Mullaney made a double bowling change by bringing on himself and Luke Wood. Mullaney twice had confident leg before shouts against Vijay turned down by umpire Lungley. The fifty partnership between Vijay and Brown took 86 balls. Mullaney bowling from the Radcliffe Road End then got a ball to move in and bowled Browne for 24, 56 for one. Wood bowled three expensive overs from Pavilion End going for 20, so Lyndon James had his maiden bowl. Vijay who initially charged down the pitch to the debutant was then dropped on 43 by Duckett at mid on diving to his right off James. Former England man Tom Westley became James maiden victim falling leg before to a well pitched up delivery for 16, 93 for two. Two balls later Fletcher leapt like salmon to take one handed catch above his head at mid on, James taking his second wicket of the over, 93 for three; the champagne moment of the day. Mullaney bowling an excellent spell got Bopara (5) to edge to Patel at second slip, 102 for 4. Three wickets had fallen in 11 balls. Vijay got to his 50 off 89 balls with two off Mullaney. James picked up his third wicket when Vijay edged to Moores for 56, umpire Nick Cook taking an age to put his finger, 118 for five. Stumps were drawn at 1807 with Essex on 133 for 5 with ten Doeschate on 11 and Porter on 8. Notts lead by 44 runs. Tomorrow’s forecast suggests that prospects of play are very low. MAG

So we have back to back home games, now that's back to school, but of course the players get the weekend off.

The 2017 championship wiiners are the opponents this round. Notts had a rare draw, for them and at Trent Bridge but as luck would have it, draws are what will probably see Notts maintain their divisional status; will this wicket reflect this or might Essex's seamers be treated to a green top?

Trident concerns

Notts will have some concerns over their trident of left arm seasmers; Gurney picked up a twinge of lameness against Yorkshire, Wood looked to be ineffectual on the surface in that game, and Footitt was a wayward child.

Could these concerns result in an opening for Jack Blatherwick and a return for either Luke Fletcher and/or Matt Carter? Matt Milnes was wicketless but showed he had potential with some low order runs with a partnership with Samit Patel.

Paul Coughlin played at Sophia Gardens for the Seconds, so might he have a say before the season is out?

Notts need to build on the positives gleaned from their last game; the runs for Brathwaite, Slater, Duckett and Patel and doing the double over the Essex men would turn the whole complexion of Notts' championship season and give further optimism for the next season.

However Essex are still reigning champions, and although they have been found out a little this season, they still have some strong players.

Bananaman Returns home to Oz


Peter Siddle once of this manor, has just completed a successful stint this season at Essex and has been rewarded with, and he has accepted, a new two year contract recently with the southeasterners. He will be replaced by Indian opening bat Murali Vijay for the rest ofthe season.

Also in this round fixtures is a Roses match where both teams will be looking to win, to leapfrog Notts, or at least close the gap, if we slip up.

Notts are 21 points ahead of Lancashire and 22 points ahead of the Tykes, who have a game in hand. Worcestershire are a further 16 points adrift of Yorkshire.

Notts Squad - Gurney injured

Jake Libby, 
Steven Mullaney (c), 
Mark Footitt, 
Luke Wood, 
Matt Milnes, 
Luke Fletcher, 
Samit Patel, 
Tom Moores (wk), 
Ben Slater, 
Will Fraine, 
Kraigg Brathwaite, 
Ben Duckett,
Lyndon James.