Yorkshire Specsavers CC1 at Trent Bridge Draw

Day 4

MATCH PETERS OUT INTO A TAME DRAW 

as batsman glean batting practice and Patel bags a 6-fer

Notts and Yorkshire predictably drew today in front of a few hundred diehard fans. The first seven overs contained interesting cricket both teams picking up an additional bonus point as they finished the encounter with 12 points apiece. The rest of the day was somewhat futile. The pitch was the only winner. 

The key play of the game was dropping of Slater early on day 1 when he just six to his name, if that catch had been held the game might have taken a different direction with the ball moving on the first morning. Notts can take heart from the performances of new batters Duckett and Slater and another couple of good innings from the impressive Brathwaite. Patel for the first time under pressure for his first team place also performed well. The worry is Notts ability to bowl teams out twice as they need to play on decent batting tracks in the remaining two games to pick up a good haul of batting points. Footitt impressive with seconds recently disappointed having poor control throughout. Notts will be hoping for a return to fitness for Fletcher and Carter and hope that the injury picked up by Gurney today is not serious. The only possible change would be introducing Blatherwick to line up who is also on form and adds a bit more pace.

In the third over of the morning Kohler-Cadmore got to his first Yorkshire ton as he hit a boundary down to fine leg off Gurney (Radcliffe Road). His 100 came off 225 balls. Gurney was gifting Yorkshire runs bowling far too short, Patel replaced him for the fifth over of the morning. Another 50 partnership was achieved this time off 63 balls. Gurney changed ends but with no improvement. Yorkshire went into the 110th over on 393 for five, but off the fourth ball the canny Patel bowled Kohler-Cadmore who was attempting a cut shot, 395 for six. Kohler-Cadmore out for 106 off 232 balls with 12 fours. But Yorkshire had the last laugh as Waite hit consecutive fours off Patel to get them to the crucial fifth batting point, 403 for six off 110 overs. Gurney went lame five balls into an over going off with what appeared to be a groin strain, Libby completed the over. Libby was only given seven balls as Footitt appeared. The floodlights were switched on shortly afterwards. 

The game was comatose. 

Tim Bresnan getting to his 50 off 82 balls. Libby replaced Patel from the Radcliffe Road End, Samit changing ends. The sixth 50 partnership of the innings was achieved by Bresnan and Waite. Yorkshire took the lead at 1157. Waite was dropped at short mid wicket on 29 by Duckett off Libby, a sharp chance to his right. Next over Waite hit Patel for six over square leg twice in three balls. Waite (42) was out next ball caught at short extra cover by Milnes as Patel got his fourth wicket, 469 for seven. On the stroke of lunch Patel picked up his fifth wicket with Pillans leg before for two. Yorkshire 484 for eight at the interval with Bresnan on 72.

A brief shower at lunchtime meant the resumption was delayed by 10 minutes with three overs lost. Milnes replaced Libby from the Radcliffe Road End. Brooks was dismissed for a single caught by Libby low down at silly point, 492 for nine. Libby finally picked up a wicket, replacing Milnes once more, who had Bresnan caught low down by Footitt at mid on for 80 (154 balls, 11 x 4), Yorkshire 498 all out off 147.2 overs leading by 50. Samit Patel six for 114 off a marathon 47 overs. This was his fifth 5 wicket haul for Notts the others were 5 for 81 versus Hampshire at the Rose Bowl in 2009, 6 for 84 versus Sussex at TB in 2009, 7 for 68 versus Hampshire at The Rose Bowl in 2011 and 5 for 43 versus Cambridge MCCU at Fenners in 2017.

Notts commenced their second innings at 1406. There was a stoppage after Slater was hit on the finger by Pillans. Notts took the lead on the stroke of tea as the 50 partnership was achieved in 94 balls. Notts 53 for 0 off 16 overs at tea with Brathwaite 23 not out and Slater 24 not out.

Yorkshire went for all spin attack after tea with Poysden and Lyth in combination. Ben Slater shuffled across his stumps and was bowled leg stump by Poysden for 39 off 82 balls with five fours, 91 for one. Notts declared at 1620 at 93 for one and Yorkshire agreed not to chase the 44 they needed to victory. Brathwaite 42 not out and Libby 0 not out. The small crowd went home in what was now bright sunshine. MAG
Day 3

RAIN AND TYKES TAKE FIZZ OUT OF NOTTS' PROSPECTS

as hosts fail the Pepsi Challenge in the 33 overs possible


This match seems to be heading for a draw after only 132 minutes play was possible on day 3 due to heavy afternoon rain. Yorkshire are still trailing by 91 runs having added 99 runs in 33 overs today for the loss of keeper Jonathan Tattersall. Kohler-Cadmore (aka Pepsi) and Tattersall adding 102 in 37 overs for the fifth wicket.

Gurney and Patel bowled 10 overs in 29 minutes first thing. The new ball was taken at 80 overs with Yorkshire 280 for four. The 50 partnership between Kohler-Cadmore and Tattersall came up in 124 balls. The new ball was taken by Footitt (Pavilion End) and Wood (Radcliffe Road End). The 300 came up in the 87th over as Footitt was wasting the new ball through being far too wayward. 

Missed chance

Tattersall was badly dropped on 30 by Mullaney at second slip off Wood, an easy chance in his midriff; Brathwaite could not quite get to the ricochet. After a seven over spell for 29 for Footitt, Milnes took over from the Pavilion End. A leg glance for Tattersall off Wood brought his 50 off 132 balls. Shortly afterwards the 100 partnership was achieved in 222 balls. Gurney returned and dismissed Tattersall for 51 with his third ball, the Yorkshire stumper being smartly caught low down to his right by Moores, 334 for five. Yorkshire reached lunch on 344 for 5 after 100 overs with Kohler-Cadmore on 90 and Bresnan on 4.

Rain arrives
The weather closed in during the luncheon interval and the floodlights were on when the players returned at 1310. In the second over after lunch Yorkshire reached 350. Rain stopped play at 1322 with Yorkshire 357 for five off 103 overs with Kohler-Cadmore on 90 and Bresnan on 11. Rather disappointingly 37 extras have been given away so far. The game was called off for the day at 1555. Tomorrow's forecast suggests a full day but it will be very surprising if a result can be obtained given the match position.MAG
Day 2

GARY BRINGS MATCH BACK TOWARDS BALLANCE

After Patel finds form with bat and ball

Notts lead Yorkshire by 190 runs at the end of the second day with the visitors still have six first innings standing. Batting on the easy paced pitch was not challenging today as the overhead conditions were not conducive to swing bowling. Notts added 116 runs to their overnight score in the first 90 minutes this morning and thereby gained maximum batting points. Gary Ballance was the pick of the Yorkshire batsman scoring 104 in their reply of 258 for four. After removing Adam Lyth in the first over without a run on the board. Notts struggled to make incisions into the Tyke batting as they added 59, 78 and 95 for their second, third and fourth wickets respectively. The feature of the day was the return to form with both bat and ball for Samit Patel who followed his 54 with an excellent 22 over spell costing 51 runs along with the wickets of Brook and Ballance, his most impressive bowling performance of the season. The new ball is 10 overs way so Notts will be hoping to garner wickets in the morning session tomorrow. The wicket is flat so it will be very hard for Notts without Jake Ball to take 20 wickets in the match to force victory particularly as the forecast for tomorrow afternoon suggests a period of rain.

Play got under way in conditions slightly brighter than yesterday. Patel hit Bresnan (Pavilion End) for successive boundaries. Pillans bowled a leg side ball that Patel flicked to fine leg bringing up the 350 in the 100th over. A glorious cover drive boundary for Milnes off Brooks (Radcliffe Road End) brought up the 50 partnership with Patel off 86 balls. An edged four by Milnes off Brooks saw Notts achieve maximum batting points in the 108th over. Milnes was out scoring Patel and frustrating Yorkshire who only picked up two bowling points with the 110 over score being 412 for seven. Poysden came on from the Pavilion End and in his third over got Milnes with his googly. Milnes leg before for 43 off 73 balls with nine fours, 421 for eight. Milnes clearly has potential with the bat. With Footitt in the line up, Harry Gurney was promoted to ten. A rank long hop from Poysden was hit by Patel for six over mid wicket to get to his 50 off 79 balls. A similar ball from Poysden brought him Patel's wicket as he holed out to the square leg ropes. Patel out for 54 off 81 balls (7 x 4, 1 x 6), 434 for nine. Harry Gurney tucked into Poysden's assorted rubbIsh and raced to 14 until skying into the covers off Bresnan, Raval taking the catch, Notts 448 all out off 117.3 overs at 1201. Footitt 1 not out. Bresnan and Waite picking up three wickets a piece. A very satisfying score having been put in yesterday.

Yorkshire had 70 overs to face. Footitt opened up from the Pavilion End and with his sixth ball stand in skipper Lyth fell to a catch by Wood in the gully, 0 for one. Milnes took the new ball from the Radcliffe Road End. Yorkshire 14 for one off 5 overs at lunch with Raval on 4 and Brook on 7.

Milnes and Footitt stayed on after lunch but proved expensive the 50 partnership for the second wicket coming up in 63 balls. Wood replaced Footitt at the Pavilion End and Gurney came on for Milnes at the Radcliffe Road. Gurney delivered a crackerjack ball as Raval's stumps were demolished to a well pitched up ball, 59 for two. The New Zealander gone for 15. The sun finally appearing at 1400. Wood only got a three over burst as Milnes switched ends. The Yorkshire 100 came up in the 23rd over via a boundary for Ballance off Milnes. The Plumtree man was going at six an over as the fifty partnership between Brook and Ballance took 63 balls. Ballance sped to 50 in 45 balls with 11 fours. Patel appeared at the Pavilion End and in his second over a terrible shot from Brook saw him caught at mid wicket by Wood for 47, 137 for three. Yorkshire reached tea on 159 for three off 38 overs with Ballance on 72 and Kohler-Cadmore on 12. Yorkshire had had their best session of the match.

Footitt and Patel were in tandem after tea and the run scoring was slowed down. Ballance and Kohler-Cadmore added 50 in 115 balls. Yorkshire got to 200 in the 53rd as Wood bowled a wide. A single to long leg for Ballance off Wood saw him to his ton off 121 balls. Samit was bowling economically and he made a deserved breakthrough as Ballance was caught at short leg by Slater for 104 off 138 balls with 20 fours, 232 for four. Kohler-Cadmore got to his 50 in 119 balls with four through extra cover off Gurney. The 250 came up in the 67th over and the close came three overs later accompanied by warm sunshine with Yorkshire 258 for 4 with Kohler-Cadmore on 57 and Tattersall on 12. Yorkshire had batted in far easier conditions than Notts had to face yesterday. MAG


Day 1

NEW BLOOD BREATHES NEW LIFE? 

All three recent arrivals star on day one led by a Slater century



Notts new boys Ben Slater and Ben Duckett were the stars of the day as Notts took advantage of an easy paced wicket and a weakened Yorkshire attack missing Patterson, Willey, Coad and Fisher through injury to close on 332 for seven when bad light stopped play 13 balls early. The visitors fought back with the second new ball taking 4 wickets as Notts collapsed from 292 for three to 331 for seven. Notts were indebted to an opening stand of 182 between Kraigg Brathwaite and Ben Slater as Yorkshire paid a high cost for dropping Slater when he had just six. Brathwaite once again impressed with his ability to bat time until eventually falling leg before to Matthew Waite for 71. Slater got to 109 only his fourth first class century off his 67 game career and only 10 short of his career best. Duckett coming in at four played an attacking innings of 80 containing 14 fours and added 87 in 19 overs with captain Steven Mullaney. Yorkshire inserted Notts on a dank day but were inconsistent with the ball and in the outfield. Waite was the pick of the bowlers taking the first three wickets to finish with a career best three for 72. The ball did move around under the heavy cloud cover so Notts should be happy with their day’s efforts. Yorkshire new boys Pillans and Poysden both disappointed with the ball. The crowd was low compared to recent Notts versus Yorkshire match ups at Trent Bridge.

Yorkshire inserted Notts following an uncontested toss on a cool cloudy morning. Ben Duckett was making his Notts debut as Riki Wessels made way. With Fletcher injured, Footitt returned with Notts having three left arm seamers in their line up. Skipper Mullaney had recovered from his back spasm and replaced Billy Root.

Notts went into the match with a terrible recent record in September. In their last 26 games in the month they had won two and lost 15. 

Play started on time at 1030 with the floodlights on the whole day. Bresnan (Pavilion) and Brooks (Radcliffe) opened the bowling and carried little threat. In the 10th a terrible shot from Slater on 6 saw him scoop the ball to White at square leg who dropped a sitter. Notts made a cautious start, standing at 21 for 0 off 16 overs. Waite and Pillans came on, the fifty partnership arrived in the 22nd over bowled by Waite which cost 17 runs with four boundaries for Brathwaite. Brooks returned from the Radcliffe Road End and was hit for successive fours by the impressive Slater. The former Derby player got to his 50 off 89 balls with flicked four off his legs off Bresnan. In the same over the hundred stand for the opening wicket came up in 186 balls. 

Notts 104 for 0 at lunch off 32 overs with Slater on 55 and Brathwaite on 43. Notts had had a fantastic morning.

The afternoon session was more even with Notts adding 101 for three off 32 overs. After lunch Brathwaite got to his 50 off 116 balls with a single off Pillans. Notts were continuing to make steady progress as captain Adam Lyth turned to leg spinner Josh Poysden in the 47th over. A rank long hop from Poysden was dispatched for four by Slater to bring up the 150 partnership off 296 balls. Poysden was bowling tripe; two off stump full tosses were hit for four by Slater. Next over Harry Brook came on with medium pacers from the Radcliffe Road End. Another full toss from Poysden saw a four through mid wicket by Slater bringing up his ton off 162 balls. Poysden had bowled five overs for 30. Waite replaced him and had Brathwaite leg before with his first ball of his spell; Brathwaite out for 71 off 172 balls with 13 fours. The opening stand had added 182 runs in 56.1 overs. In his next over Waite got his second leg before with Libby departing for a single, 188 for two. Duckett got off the mark with a flash for four through the vacant third slip position off Pillans.

First batting bonus point since June.

 Notts picked up their first batting bonus point since June with a four through mid wicket by Duckett off Pillans. Waite bagged up his third wicket as Slater was strangled down the leg side caught by keeper Tattersall . The left hander had scored 109 off 184 balls (19 x 4), 205 for three. Notts 217 for three of 64 overs at tea with Duckett on 24 and Mullaney on 4.

A late cut for four by Mullaney brought up the 250. Next ball a similar shot brought up the 50 partnership between Duckett and Mullaney. Duckett playing a typical cavalier innings reached 50 off 56 balls. Yorkshire took the new ball with Notts 282 for three off 80 overs. With the second over with the new ball Mullaney was bowled by a delivery from Jack Brooks that moved in, 297 for 4. Mullaney 39 off 53 balls with 7 fours. Next over a four for Duckett brought the Notts 300 in the 83rd over. Waite came back with the sixth over with the new ball. Duckett playing a loose drive with a bat away from body was caught behind off Bresnan for 80 off 89 balls, 318 for five. Patel came in at number 7. Another soft dismissal followed as Moores (8) drove Bresnan straight to Raval at extra cover, 321 for six. Wood on 4 was dropped at mid wicket by Raval off Waite. The dropped catch was not costly as Wood was caught behind off Brooks for nine, 331 for seven. Bad light stopped play at 1742 with Notts 332 for seven with Patel on 4 and Milnes on 1 off 93.5 overs. Yorkshire had fought back well with new ball, Notts will be looking to capture their fourth batting point tomorrow. But with batting a problem all season how refreshing to see all three new signings score vital runs in the same innings in such a crucial fixture. MAG



Squad News (13 named)

Jake Libby,
Steven Mullaney (c), 
Mark Footitt, 
Riki Wessels, 
Harry Gurney, 
Luke Wood, 
Matt Milnes, 
Luke Fletcher, 
Samit Patel, 
Tom Moores (wk), 
Ben Slater, 
Kraigg Brathwaite,
Ben Duckett.

Downward Spiral?

Nottinghamshire are on a slide, the end of season blues struck early in August and players are picking up injuries or falling ill, whilst the healthy ones are hopelessly out of form.

A poor performance with the ball saw an end to the white ball season at Taunton, but much of the ineptitude in the championship has been with the bat.

With the season now into its last month, how is it that many players are struggling for form quite so much?

Struggles not just recent but season long

Ever-present Samit Patel averages 27 this season with a top score of 76, which was one of just 3 fifties

Popular Riki Wessels averages 31, his top score is 75* and again his contribution has been disappointing with 4 fifties.

Target for much flak used to be Jake Libby, he too averages 31 but has scored one century (100*) to add to his 4 fifties. Libby has statistically fared slightly better than his captain and fellow opener for much of the season so far; Mullaney averages 29, top scored with 130, his only ton to add to 2 fifties.

One player, struggling particularly badly, maybe because of the difficult circumstances he has consistently been dumped into, is Billy Root who only averages 16.

New Blood - New Hope?

The club have acted and acted earlier than their usual MO; brought in two badly needed batsmen. Neither batsman has been tested in Division 1 but both are at that point of their careers where they need to playing in the top flight, trying to be as good as they possibly can.

Again neither batsman is having a great season so far, perhaps supporting their personal need to change, to improve, to forge onwards with their respective careers to this point, Notts providing a timely opportunity. Ben Duckett is only averaging 24 this season with one ton (133) and1 fifty. Ben Slater after two disappointing defeats for Notts already, now has a season's average 39 and failed to convert all of the 6 fifties that he scored for Derbyshire.

So will the injection of new blood rejuvenate Notts' flailing season, can it stop the slide to Division Two, or will it just be used to deflect flak directed in Moores' and Newell's vicinity at Tuesday's Members' forum?

All problems can be traced back to the poor recruitment for both first and second eleven squads over the last few seasons resulting in the failure to replace significant players and leaving the club chronically short of good quality players.

Surrey were leagues apart from Notts, having a fat cheque book and having used it well with recruitment; so will Yorkshire, who are struggling like Notts push Notts over like Hampshire, another side looking behind them and not in front, did, or will there be a more even match? Can Notts avoid any sessions from hell that have crippled our games as a contests and resulted in heavy defeats?