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OUTLAWS STUMBLE TO HOME Q/F PLACE
after Durham thrash Notts
Despite an indifferent performance with bat and ball which resulted in a 47 run defeat against visitors Durham, Notts have got a money spinning home quarter final against Middlesex next Thursday. Bottom of the table Northants pulled off a surprise seven wicket win against Worcester at Wantage Road, keeping Notts in second place. Notts in a reprise of the Leicester game earlier this season came out flat and bowled poorly, Durham racing to 69 for 0 after 6 overs. Notts spin trio pulled on the brakes as Durham were restricted to 102 for eight off the 14 overs, but the total still looked over par. Notts have an over reliance when chasing of a big score from Hales, however he failed being bowled by Man of the Match Rimmington for eight, playing an ugly heave. Hales was the third man out, Clarke driving to backward point off the fourth ball and Duckett after hitting slow left armer Trevaskis for two sixes, gave it away in the same over caught at long on. Notts 41 for three after six overs were all but out of the game on a slow pitch. Moores got to 33 off 26 balls but could only hit one six and one four on the sluggish surface as Notts lost their last three wickets in four balls with Rimmington the star with figures of 3 0 15 2. Overall, Durham bowled with much greater discipline and control and gave away only 4 extras to Notts 11. The sixes count was 8 to 4 in Durham’s favour.
No answer to Steel sixes
Durham won the toss and elected to bat in front of a bumper crowd of 13, 078. Imad Wasim returned in place of Luke Wood. Carter bowled the first over from the Pavilion End and his second ball was hit for six by Durham born Scott Steel, nine off the over. D’arcy Short hit Imad through the covers for a boundary in an over costing five runs. Steel hit Carter for a six over extra cover and in the same over Short hit Carter for six over mid wicket. Steel then hit Carter for a boundary through extra cover, 31 for 0 after three overs. Gurney's first ball was a four through third man by Steel. Two balls later Steel hit a six through long on, then next ball was a straight driven four, then last ball was a leg side four, 18 off the over. The 50 partnership between Steel and Short took 25 balls, the opening pair gorging on some poor bowling from the home side. Short straight drove Fletcher for four, ten off the over. Imad returned and was hit a four over mid wicket by Short, the ball landing just short of the ropes. Steel finished the power play with a leg side four, 69 for 0 after six overs.
Durham won the toss and elected to bat in front of a bumper crowd of 13, 078. Imad Wasim returned in place of Luke Wood. Carter bowled the first over from the Pavilion End and his second ball was hit for six by Durham born Scott Steel, nine off the over. D’arcy Short hit Imad through the covers for a boundary in an over costing five runs. Steel hit Carter for a six over extra cover and in the same over Short hit Carter for six over mid wicket. Steel then hit Carter for a boundary through extra cover, 31 for 0 after three overs. Gurney's first ball was a four through third man by Steel. Two balls later Steel hit a six through long on, then next ball was a straight driven four, then last ball was a leg side four, 18 off the over. The 50 partnership between Steel and Short took 25 balls, the opening pair gorging on some poor bowling from the home side. Short straight drove Fletcher for four, ten off the over. Imad returned and was hit a four over mid wicket by Short, the ball landing just short of the ropes. Steel finished the power play with a leg side four, 69 for 0 after six overs.
In retrospect these six overs had decided the match.
Scott Steel (45) was caught on the square leg ropes by Libby off Christian's second ball, 70 for one. Christian conceded five off the over. Patel went for two off the eighth over. Short (36) hit Christian for a huge six into The Fridge but was out in the same over caught at long on by Hales, 85 for two off 9 overs. Patel then conceded four, 89 for two after 10 overs. Christian bowled a no ball and two wides in his third over but got Oxford MCCU’s and Chesterfield born Harry Adair (9) caught at mid on by Duckett as Christian picked up his third over, 97 for three. Christian went for 12 in the nine ball over. Christian (3 0 26 3) did not bowl again. Handscomb hit Patel for a straight six, 114 for three after 12 overs. Matt Carter returned and Raine (4) caught low down by Imad at point, 115 for four. Imad went for seven in the 14th over. Clarke hit Carter for a straight six. Skipper Peter Handscomb (20) holed out to the mid wicket ropes as Duckett took a running catch off Carter, 131 for five. Clark was dropped off his own bowling by Carter when on 10, Carter 4 0 37 2. Patel completed his spell with 4 0 23 0, with nine dot balls. Imad bowled Harte for one, 140 for six. Three came off Imad's last over 4 0 25 1 with 11 dot balls. Clark hit Gurney for a six in an over costing 12. Next over Clarke hit Fletcher for a leg side four. Trevaskis was caught by Christian running in from long on off Fletcher ( 2 0 19 1) for four, 160 for seven. In the last over which cost 11, Clark hit Gurney for a straight six. Clark (41 off 24 balls – 1x4,3x6) finally departed caught by Hales at long on off Gurney. Durham 171 for eight. Gurney having an off night with 3 0 39 1.
Joe Clarke (1) fell to the fourth ball of the innings caught at backward point off slow left armer Trevaskis (Pavilion End), 2 for one. Hales hit Potts first ball for a leg side four, 6 for one off 2 overs. Duckett (17) hit Trevaskis for two leg side sixes into The Fridge and followed with a leg side four but then gave it away caught at long on by Raine off Trevaskis, 24 for two off three overs. Duckett smashing his bat against his pads in frustration, it was a dreadful shot. Potts conceded four off the fourth over. Hales was bowled by Rimmington for 8, 29 for three. Patel was dropped first ball at third man by Adair off Rimmington. Libby hit Weighell for two leg side fours in the sixth over. Notts 41 for three at the end of the power play, 28 behind Durham’s blistering start..
Off spinner Steel conceded five off the seventh over. Libby glided Short for a boundary through third man. Patel then hit Short for a leg side four, 57 for three off 8 overs. A long hop from Steel was hit for a boundary through fine leg. Patel then hit a six over mid wicket, 15 off the over. Patel (21) fell caught behind by keeper Handscomb standing up to medium pacer Harte for 21, 73 for four, four off the over. Libby (26) going for a scoop shot was bowled by Rimmington, 77 for five in the 11th over. Harte conceded seven Notts 86 for five off 12 overs.
Scott Steel (45) was caught on the square leg ropes by Libby off Christian's second ball, 70 for one. Christian conceded five off the over. Patel went for two off the eighth over. Short (36) hit Christian for a huge six into The Fridge but was out in the same over caught at long on by Hales, 85 for two off 9 overs. Patel then conceded four, 89 for two after 10 overs. Christian bowled a no ball and two wides in his third over but got Oxford MCCU’s and Chesterfield born Harry Adair (9) caught at mid on by Duckett as Christian picked up his third over, 97 for three. Christian went for 12 in the nine ball over. Christian (3 0 26 3) did not bowl again. Handscomb hit Patel for a straight six, 114 for three after 12 overs. Matt Carter returned and Raine (4) caught low down by Imad at point, 115 for four. Imad went for seven in the 14th over. Clarke hit Carter for a straight six. Skipper Peter Handscomb (20) holed out to the mid wicket ropes as Duckett took a running catch off Carter, 131 for five. Clark was dropped off his own bowling by Carter when on 10, Carter 4 0 37 2. Patel completed his spell with 4 0 23 0, with nine dot balls. Imad bowled Harte for one, 140 for six. Three came off Imad's last over 4 0 25 1 with 11 dot balls. Clark hit Gurney for a six in an over costing 12. Next over Clarke hit Fletcher for a leg side four. Trevaskis was caught by Christian running in from long on off Fletcher ( 2 0 19 1) for four, 160 for seven. In the last over which cost 11, Clark hit Gurney for a straight six. Clark (41 off 24 balls – 1x4,3x6) finally departed caught by Hales at long on off Gurney. Durham 171 for eight. Gurney having an off night with 3 0 39 1.
Joe Clarke (1) fell to the fourth ball of the innings caught at backward point off slow left armer Trevaskis (Pavilion End), 2 for one. Hales hit Potts first ball for a leg side four, 6 for one off 2 overs. Duckett (17) hit Trevaskis for two leg side sixes into The Fridge and followed with a leg side four but then gave it away caught at long on by Raine off Trevaskis, 24 for two off three overs. Duckett smashing his bat against his pads in frustration, it was a dreadful shot. Potts conceded four off the fourth over. Hales was bowled by Rimmington for 8, 29 for three. Patel was dropped first ball at third man by Adair off Rimmington. Libby hit Weighell for two leg side fours in the sixth over. Notts 41 for three at the end of the power play, 28 behind Durham’s blistering start..
Off spinner Steel conceded five off the seventh over. Libby glided Short for a boundary through third man. Patel then hit Short for a leg side four, 57 for three off 8 overs. A long hop from Steel was hit for a boundary through fine leg. Patel then hit a six over mid wicket, 15 off the over. Patel (21) fell caught behind by keeper Handscomb standing up to medium pacer Harte for 21, 73 for four, four off the over. Libby (26) going for a scoop shot was bowled by Rimmington, 77 for five in the 11th over. Harte conceded seven Notts 86 for five off 12 overs.
Outlaws' feeble end
With the score on 87, Christian became the sixth man to fall caught at third man for three by Adair off Potts. Moores pulled Steel for 6, 101 for 6 off 14 overs. Imad hit Rimmington for four through backward point, but going for a leg side heave was bowled for seven by Rimmington, 110 for seven. Moores pulled Short’s chinaman for four, 118 for seven off 16 overs. Notts lost their last three wickets in 4 balls. Moores (33 off 26 balls) was caught at extra cover by Clarke off Potts, 123 for eight. Fletcher also perished to catch at extra cover by Clark off Short, 123 for nine. Next ball Carter was caught by Rimmington at short fine leg for a golden duck. Notts 124 all out off 17.2 overs. Durham winning by 47 runs with 16 balls unused.
Post Mortem
With the score on 87, Christian became the sixth man to fall caught at third man for three by Adair off Potts. Moores pulled Steel for 6, 101 for 6 off 14 overs. Imad hit Rimmington for four through backward point, but going for a leg side heave was bowled for seven by Rimmington, 110 for seven. Moores pulled Short’s chinaman for four, 118 for seven off 16 overs. Notts lost their last three wickets in 4 balls. Moores (33 off 26 balls) was caught at extra cover by Clarke off Potts, 123 for eight. Fletcher also perished to catch at extra cover by Clark off Short, 123 for nine. Next ball Carter was caught by Rimmington at short fine leg for a golden duck. Notts 124 all out off 17.2 overs. Durham winning by 47 runs with 16 balls unused.
Post Mortem
Notts finished with 16 points from their 14 games in a rain ruined campaign which saw them victorious in six contests. The Middlesex quarter final will prove challenging with the visitors having de Villiers and Morgan in their ranks. Notts will be hoping that they bat first and post a defendable target. It is clear the Notts bowlers can handle the pressure of defending a total, a great attribute to have. The batting remains flaky particularly when chasing. If Hales flops in the chase, more often than not Notts crumble although with Christian in the ranks, anything is possible if he gets going. There is no doubt Imad is an improvement on Sodhi and that Matt Carter has got better with experience.
Worrying times
However, just like in the championship there are not enough of signs of player improvement in the squad, worrying times. Many long time supporters are talking of not renewing their membership through disillusionment in player performance, the poor fixture scheduling, the lack of communication between the club management and the supporters and an increase in membership costs, despite the near certain relegation and the total degrading of the 50 over competition.
Let’s hope for much improved performance next Thursday to cheer the fans up. MAG
Let’s hope for much improved performance next Thursday to cheer the fans up. MAG
Joe Clarke
Alex Hales
Ben Duckett
Jake Libby
Tom Moores
Dan Christian
Imad Wasim
Luke Fletcher
Samit Patel
Matt Carter
Harry Gurney
No longer The Jets, the Sopwith Camels now play in a blue/yellow kit with a new badge that looks almost an exact rip off of the Warwickshire Bears logo. I feel sorry for the Notts supporters who still heroically went to New Rd yesterday despite the awful forecast, but, that aside a point each is a cracking result. It's now just up to us against, in theory, average oppo with nowt to play. I think the Worcs Raptors game would have been extremely difficult for us to win and we may have shot any chance of a home qtr. Now it's up to us and it doesn't matter what happens at Wantage Road against the Northants Sticklebacks, provided we win.
ReplyDeleteMy feeling is that Worcestershire will pip us to the Home Quarter Final slot - it will be an interesting day tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteNotts to win the T20 Competition ? !
ReplyDeleteIts written in the stars.
Something HAS to go right this season after all the early expectation was cruelly dashed .
That was the worst bowling and worst batting of Outlaws' Blast season, perhaps with the exception of rain reduced Leicester game. A very poor display through-out. But still we bag a home QF against Middlesex.
DeleteFantastic game v middlesex in qf with eoin morgan and ab de Villiers playing too. But why are we on thursday night? That puts pay to the school kids and a lot of the lincs based notts supporters. Friday or saturday would have been perfect. Surely this is the best of the quarter finals. Hope we turn up!
ReplyDeleteAt least Middlesex will want to chase, so we get first dibs regardless of who wins the toss.
DeleteDisgraceful performance tonight - an utter embarrassment. We don't deserve to go any further in this Competition. As for timing of the QF that was pre-determined by our good friends at the ECB!!! Why did we not play Luke Wood who is 10th in the national T20 Bowling Averages - punishment for leaving us? And as for batting Alex Hales, who again failed, is only 66th in the Averages - yes, 66th!!! Money for old rope. Heads have got to roll - come on Committee try to be brave.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Some very poor performances from players tonight. Gurney going for 13 an over was ridiculous. Clarke, Hales and Duckett getting 26 between them was equally as bad. Loads of extras again. Just put the pressure on the middle order, which really never got going. We found fielders, Durham found boundaries.
DeleteQuite simply, it was a regular four day performance condensed into 150 minutes (or slightly less as we couldn't even bat twenty overs !!),heart attack material !!
ReplyDeleteIronically probably only qualified for the QF on the ‘no result’ games. Four rained off equals 4 points equates to 2 wins.
ReplyDeleteCan't quite believe we've got a home qtr. The batting unit has not fired with any consistency albeit these used surfaces seem to be helping the oppo more than us. Apart from Lanky, however, no team is stringing a run of results together. Who would have thought The Sticklebacks would have beaten the Worcs Raptors last night ? Carter has improved but it was a bit disturbing how easily their two openers dismantled him on that surface. He has no mystery about him and it is a tough ask to bowl in the first six. He does seem to handle big game pressure well though and I back him to produce against the Panthers. I've seem them on SKY struggle to fire a big total and they've lost six games, so we should not be too concerned, provided our dodgy batting unit can produce on the big stage. It only takes a ball to remove Morgan, Stirling and DeVilliers who are very dangerous match winnners. Had a restricted view last night as was sitting in the pavilion. You possibly did the right thing in relocating Sir Philip.
ReplyDeleteNotice how the Friday night audience were totally disengaged with the cricket and amused themselves with wave after wave. That's the Hundred audience, we don't need another format.
DeleteYes, when all else failed the Mexican Wave amused the 'educated' masses - typical of what sort of audience the T20 produces - goodness knows what the 100-ball 'amusement' will produce - dancing girls; fire eaters; - pie-flingers? We need David Fox, the Magic Man who can often be seen doing his card tricks etc. in the Interval at T20 Matches to work some magic with the Committee; players; Coaches and Executive!!!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I do hope for the QF against Middlesex is that a. we don't prepare a slow slow pitch which Notts seen to hate more than most and b. we don't have tiny boundaries such as Middlesex made the most of down at Somerset.
ReplyDeletebws
Chris S
Aye but they'll pack the squad with spinners - Samit, Carts and Maddi cos that's worked in the past this season and play to our strengths. At least Gurney can't be any worse than he was Friday. Wood should be back but what are they saving Coggers up for?
DeleteI hope Notts ho through to finals day, but the good side of our T20 cricket needs to shine through, not what we saw in the report above. Overall the group performance was OK, but when we were bad etc ......
ReplyDelete