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OUTLAWS SIMULATE FOXES' WIN
Leicester, the paupers of the County Cricket, upset the form book by deservedly beating awell under par and very expensively funded Notts team by four wickets with a ball to spare. Notts will point to a five run penalty given to them as Mullaney was accused of a spot of fake fielding in the first over as a turning point. Unfortunately the live stream and adjoining commentary could not paint a picture of what actually happened. The defeat though could be put down to a number of reasons. A poor finish to the Notts innings where only 24 runs were gathered in the last four overs as the rusty middle late order finally got to bat. This was after Duckett (53) and Moores (51) added 102 for the fourth wicket of 11.3 overs after Notts lost three wickets in the power play. The performance in the field was far worse. On the big Grace Road outfield with a few exceptions the fielding was slow and leaden footed and the throwing was also indifferent. The bowling was generally poor with seven wides given away, far too many. Zak Chappell came in for his first T20 appearance of the season replacing Jake Ball in the Eleven but unfortunately could neither find length or line on a slow wicket where accuracy was the key. Imad (4-0-35-1) probably had his worst performance in a Notts shirt and Christian also had an off night with bat and ball. Carter (1-0-10-0) was strangely only given one over and Notts could only rely on veterans Mullaney and Patel who bowled 8-1-41-4 between them to provide the necessary control.
Notts won the toss and elected to bat. Callum Parkinson bowled the first over from the Bennett End. The departing Chris Nash hit the fourth ball of the over for an off side four, but Nash fell to last ball of the over, dabbing the ball straight back to the bowler, 4 for one. Earlier in the day it had been announced that Nash would be departing after three seasons on the Notts staff, a decision that did not come as a surprise given the current economic situation. Nash an excellent county pro is in the Autumn of his career and hopes to find another county for 2021, good luck to him on his search. Eight runs came off the second over from Dieter Klein, including get a boundary for Hales. Clarke hit a big six over long on in the third over bowled by Griffiths, 10 off the over.Clarke hit Colin Ackermann for a leg side six over mid wicket, 10 off the fourth over plus the leg bye. Clarke (19) played on to Klein, 35 for two after five overs. Parkinson got one to turn to remove Hales (11) off bail, 42 to three at the end of the power play.
Seven runs came off the seventh over including a boundary for Duckett. Four singles came off the next over bowled by leg spinner Gareth Delany. Eight runs came from ninth over, Duckett (12) getting a leading edge was dropped at mid off by Rhodes off Griffiths. Lilley went for eight including a boundary for Moores, 69 for three off 10 overs.
Will Davis went for five singles in the 11th over. Moores switched hit Lilley forsix. Two balls later, Moores scooped the ball for a four through fine leg, 14 off the over. The 50 partnership came up via a six over square leg by Moores off Klein. Moores then hit a boundary through extra cover, 13 off Klein's over.Six came off the 14th over bowled by Parkinson. Duckett hit Davis for three successive boundaries, two straight driven and one a swept effort, nineteen off the over. Duckett paddled Parkinson (4-0-29-2) for a four through long leg. Moores then slogged hIm for a four through mid wicket, 12 off the over.Moores reached 50 off 34 balls with a single off Griffiths. In the same over which cost five, Duckett got to his 50 off 37 balls. Moores (51 off 36 balls –5x4, 2x6) fell to an excellent catch at deep backward square leg abovehis head by Klein off Davis, 144 for four in the 18th over. Christian fell for a golden duck, scooping the ball to Griffiths who ran in from short third man to take the catch, another wicket for Davis, 145 for five. Duckett (53 off 43balls – 5x4) was caught at deep backward square leg by Dearden off Griffiths, just four singles off the over. A long hop from Davis was hit for six over square leg by Mullaney. Next ball, Mullaney (11) fell to catch at mid off by Ackermannoff Davis, 159 for seven. Notts closed on 162 for seven for Patel on 4 and Imad having not faced a ball, 15 or so runs less than they should have got after the Duckett and Moores stand had been broken.
Imad (Bennett End) bowled the first over and Notts conceded a five run penalty off the fifth ball for a deliberate attempt to put off the striker by pretending to stop the ball, Mullaney the offender. Eight off the over. Welsh hit Patel's first ball for four. Welch (6) was bowled behind his legs off Patel's fourth ball, 12 for one. Six off the over. Delany smashed Imad for a straight six, three followed off the next ball. Delany (12) inside edged Imad and was caughtat mid on by Carter, 26 for two off 3 overs. Patel conceded two off the fourth over. Chappell started with a wide, conceding nine runs and a leg bye. Ackermann hit Imad for six over mid wicket and then swept him for two fours, and then four leg byes followed.
Leicestershire well ahead at the end of the power play at 56 for two.
Carter was hit for huge straight six by Lilley, 10 off the over. Lilley hit a slowerball from Christian for a leg side four, nine off the over. A poor leg sideball from Chappell was hit for four by Lilley and then he was a hit for a straight six next ball, 13 off the over. Mullaney conceded five off the tenth over, Leicester 93 for two off 10 overs.
They were strolling to victory.
Christian came back and bowled three successive leg side wides. Lilley brought the 100 with a straight four off Christian. Lilley (34 off 23 balls – 3x4, 2x6) fell to catch at long on by Hales off Christian, 101 for three off 10.4 overs. Lilley once again a thorn in Notts side following his match winning innings at Trent Bridge last season. Christian brought Duckett in at first slip. It could have been an inspired bit of captaincy but Dearden was dropped on 0 by Duckett as an easy chance went begging, nine off the over. Dearden (0) fell next over, scooping Mullaney, he was well caught by Moores running to his right, 103 for four. Just one leg bye off the 12th over which was therefore a maiden for Mullaney. A poor ball from Patel was hit for four by Ackermann, seven off the over. Rhodes (1) skied Mullaney to Imad at extra cover who took an easy catch, 113 for five. Mullaney conceded six runs off the third over. Ackermann hit a straight four off Christian to get to 50 off 39 balls, eight off the over. Mullaney (4-1-17-2) conceded six off his last over. Patel (4-0-24-2) bowled Hill (11) with his last ball, 139 for six off 17 overs.
With Ackermann still there, Leicester remained favourites.
Imad (4-0-35-1) conceded six off the 18th over but could make the crucial breakthrough. Parkinson hit the returning Christian (4-0-38-1) for four off his first ball and repeated the shot off the last ball, 12 off the over. Leicester needed six off the last over bowled by the disappointing Chappell (2.5-0-27-0) which they achieved without any alarms with a ball and four wickets to spare. Ackermann who anchored the innings finished with a man of the match 67 not out off 53 balls (5x4, 1x6) and Parkinson who removed both Notts openers stayed calm and finished 13 not out. Notts the only team with two overseas players in the competition had lost to the poorest of all the counties, a real wake up call for all involved at Trent Bridge. Despite the inept Notts performance, they are nearly certain to top the group following Lancashire thrashing by Durham earlier tonight.
With Ball being rested and Fletcher injured, the Notts lack of bowling depth was exposed tonight. Also with this being only the sixth day that Notts have played away from Trent Bridge they were out of the comfort zone. Notts fielding not for the first time was shown up on the big outfield,but with an aged team this is to be expected, and something they will have to cope with come Finals Day if they get there. After having had some a good start to the competition a defeat was almost inevitable so its perhaps just as well it came in this game, hopefully any complacency that was creeping in has been well and truly been wiped away. A much improved performance is expected against Durham on Sunday. MAG
if Imad won't be available for knockouts, they should surely give whoever will take his place a go now?
ReplyDeleteStiffer test than Derbyshire. Stick with the adage of not changing a winning team.
ReplyDeleteThe team is playing well as a whole, just need to refine certain parts. Hales needs a big score, and the death bowling needs tweaking.
Notts are going great guns - but so are Surrey and Glouc.
ReplyDeleteThink PM will stick with the same side- the balance seems about right.
Good to keep the momentum going and win the next two matches. Then who knows - Notts might end up with a trophy. Alex is well overdue a brisk 60/70/80.
Nash leaving at end of season - question is will they leave him out now for 'unity' or keep the side that has worked so far?
ReplyDeleteDon’t have any doubts about Nash. He could do with a few runs of course. Chappell coming I. Is also the right thing to do - give him some game time but don’t change the formula too much.
ReplyDeleteAlex Hales is just not firing. Not yet played a big innings in this Blast comp.
ReplyDeleteI will tell you one thing Alex!
If you had played more cricket in the past few weeks in the BWT natches you would now not be so ring rusty- and WOULD HAVE SCORED MORE RUNS In these Blast matches . Its time for you to sign a RED BALL CONTRACT With Notts for next season !
Let's save some mega bucks and let Alex go. He has had a poor Season in the T20 Blast.
DeleteI’ve no idea who’s paid how much for doing what!? But if serious savings have got to be made we could be in for a few surprises.still thing Alex Hales is due a big one very soon.
ReplyDeleteWhy the long gap to the quarter finals and then any inpending final just 2 days after that.
ReplyDeleteLooking back at the game you just wonder how Notts managed to lose it ? To a team described as very average at best.
ReplyDeleteDan Christian is not the player he was. Good Captain but his bowling now lacks penetration and can be wayward. Cant remember his last match winning performance with the ball . He lasted one ball in this match and the shot he played was irresponsible . The scoop shot is ugly and can often go wrong.
To stand a chance of winning the trophy we need to score bug totals 180/200+
That means we need several overdue big hitting innings from Alex Hales, who,s star rating is apparently waning.
We should have kept our unbeaten Blast 20 record. We reached 143-3 and to score only another 19 runs with the amount of wickets and balls left was pretty poor.
But no team can win every game and perhaps it was the right time now to put in a below par performance rather than later in the competition. I backed Notts to win the trophy before the first Blast match ( odds of 8/1). Am still hopeful of collecting !!
Hales always prefers a wicket that has a bit of pace,with the ball coming onto the bat. Put him on a slow turning pitch and he struggles . Having said that, he genuinely looks half cooked.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am more concerned about Notts pace bowling options, or should I say, lack of them.
With the Aussies over here, there is also a possibility, that other sides in contention may recruit one or two of them, to strengthen their teams,for the quarter finals.
If Notts are to win this competition,it will certainly have to be their depth of batting, to get them over the line.