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DAN CHRISTIAN FLYING OUTLAWS INTO FINAL on FLIGHT 6666
Notts reached the T20 final for the third time following a five wicket triumph over Lancashire with 16 balls to spare. After a monumental mop up following Saturday's deluge, play finally got going on Finals Day at 1515 with Surrey beating Gloucestershire by six wickets in an 11 overs a side affair. Notts game was of a similar duration and started at 1720. Lancashire got to a good start speeding to 28 for one off three overs. Unchanged Notts though bowled tightly and despite 33 from the experienced Steven Croft, Lancashire could only muster 94 for four with Carter, Ball and Christian conceding no boundaries in the last 17 balls of the innings. Carter (2-0-16-2) finished with most economical figures and also removing key men Livingstone and Vilas. The only blow for Notts was the knee injury sustained to Chris Nash who fell awkwardly on his knee attempting a catch; he left the field and did not bat in what turned out to be his last game for Notts. Notts made a rapid start racing to 49-1 in four overs. For the second time in three days, Hales (29) was a victim of one of the Parkinson twins, another big spinning delivery bowling him. Notts had a mid innings wobble as slow left armer Hartley claimed Clarke and Moores in the same over, as Notts needed 34 off five overs. However Christian (30 and 2-0-20-0) all but settled proceedings by dispatching Liam Livingstone for four successive sixes into the empty Hollies Stand in the eighth over. Christian departed with four needed but Imad hit his first ball to the ropes as Notts got home with ease. Lancashire had only bowled two overs of pace in the brief innings of 8.2 overs.
Lancashire won the toss and elected to bat. Imad opened the bowling from the City End and conceded five singles. Davies losing his bat got three off Ball and then off the third and fourth balls hit him for straight boundaries, 13 off the over. Patel took a wicket with his second ball having Davies (15) well caught by Mullaney at short fine leg, 18 for one. Croft hit his first ball through extra cover for 4. Two balls later Croft hit him for six over wide long on, 10 off the Patel over. A leg side four for Livingstone off Imad saw Lancashire to 32 for one at the end of the power play (3.2 overs). Eight of Imad's second over.
Patel conceded seven off the fifth over. Christian was hit for a leg side four by Croft. Two balls later Livingstone hit him for a straight four. Eleven off the over including one leg bye. Livingstone hit Carter for a leg side six. Two balls later, repeating the same shot Livingstone (22) was caught on the square leg ropes by Ball off Carter, 61 for two off 7 overs. Imad (3-0-20-0) then conceded eight off his third over. Croft hit Carter for a leg side six. Vilas (5) attempting a sweep was leg before to Carter, 75 for three. Nine off the over. Croft (33 off 22 balls,2x4,2x6) holed out to substitute Zak Chappell on the deep mid wicket ropes, Jake Ball the bowler, 78 for four. Ball (2-0-20-1) conceded seven off the tenth over. Christian conceded 10 off the last over as. Lancashire were 94 for four off 11 overs with Jennings on 9 and Jones on 6.
Slow left arm spinner Tom Hartley bowled the first over from the City End and conceded 12 including a six over long on for Duckett. A poor opening ball from Luke Wood was smashed to the off side ropes by Hales, 11 off the over. Hales hit Mahmood for six over third man. Duckett (13) pulled Mahmood to Croft who took a well judged catch at deep square leg, 30 for one. Clarke hit his first ball for six over long off, 37 for one off three overs. Hales swept Livingstone for four, Notts 41 for one at the end of the power play (3.2 overs); nine ahead of Lancashire at the equivalent stage. Hales hit Livingstone for six over mid wicket, 12 off the fourth over. Matt Parkinson copied his brother by getting a ball to turn sharply to Hales (29) taking out his off stump, 50 for two. A cracking ball and just three off the over.
Clarke swept Hartley for a leg side six. Moores (1) played a wild slog to Hartley and was caught at long off by Vilas, 59 for three. Clarke (17) was yorked and lost his leg stump, 61 for four. Two wickets for Hartley in the sixth over as Lancashire fought back. Parkinson conceded five off the next over. The game turned dramatically as Christian swept Livingstone for four consecutive massive sixes into Hollies Stand, 25 off the over. With first ball of the ninth over, Christian (30 off 13 balls) was stumped by Davies off Parkinson, 91 for five. Imad hit his first ball to the long on boundary to clinch the game, Notts 95 for five off 8.2 overs. Patel 1 not out. MAG
RINSE, DRY, REPEAT
Slight improvement in the forecast, but Edgbaston must be sodden. The potential new day of Wednesday looks to be more favourable but will the Technical Committee be keen to a result, by whatever means, this weekend?
Inspection was planned for 12.00 but additional rain has delayed that until 2.00
2.00 inspection brought forward to 1.30 and then 2.30
Day 1
Surrey v Gloucestershire
10.30 toss delayed by light drizzle
Start delayed
11.00 inspection abandoned due to rain worsening.
14.30 The second semi would have started now, but there's little prospect of any play today as the rain continues to soak the Edgbaston outfield.
16.30 Still raining
18.00 It's been decided that there's no chance of play today and so the whole procedure will be repeated tomorrow.
WILL THEY, WON'T THEY
Will they, won't they... play?
We know the Notts Outlaws eleven, regardless of who is thrown into the squad, Lancashire will know too.
Outlaws will face the other Parkinson and Luke Wood as well as a well skilled and well drilled Lightning squad, who on their day are a match for Notts. The winners are likely to be the team that adjusts best and the quickest to conditions on the day, be it weather or the playing (overs) conditions.
But will they play?
Cricket isn't played in October (usually) for reasons:
too cool
too wet
too dark
too windy
wickets too slow
too much competition from football in its full swing for the media's attention
Only one of those will prevent Saturday's attempts to play and the forecasters foresee plenty of wet for Birmingham on both Saturday and Sunday.
It might all be decided by the Technical Committee (see previous post).
The above link will take you to the bowl-out procedure also.
Anything less than each Side being able to bowl a full 10 Overs will render the Competition meaningless and even that would demean the value of winning. Somehow or other every effort needs to be made to get in the full Matches over the 2 days - and that, in my opinion, should include greater flexibility on both Start and Finish times.
ReplyDeleteQuite agree, cricket should be a balance between bat and ball. The batsmen play no part in a bowl out. As no spectators in this years competition, why not change the rules immediately and play Finals Day on Monday/Tuesday instead. What real difference would it make in the whole scheme of things. Also heard Notts Outlaws have suggested an alternative to a bowl out, namely an Eat/Drink Out. Still to be covered by Dish TV and Dave Bracegirdle. Bookmakers have the Outlaws still firm favourites for this format as we would go in with our heavyweight trio of Fletch, Mullaney and Samit. Rumours Surrey's team of younger, more athletic athletes have requested this should be held at Restaurant Six where portions are much smaller. Notts are insisting the venue should be a Greene King "Hungry Horse" outlet where big plate deals are available.
ReplyDeleteWhy not play it all at the start of the 2021 season. Hold it in Dubai or somewhere similar?
DeleteLooking closely at the detailed forecast for to-day ( Sat) and tomorrow it must be 100-1 against a single ball being bowled on the prepared wickets. A terrible anti-climax but an almost expected jinxed end to a turbulent cricket season ( if you can even call it a season).
ReplyDeleteThe question is this- will the Notts side be picked purely on the expected accuracy of FiVE bowlers to deliver the goods in the ”bowl- out”
Viz - 5 bowlers given two balls each to shatter the stumps.
So who are the FIVE bowlers Notts should pick to lift the trophy tomorrow after the days play is abandoned?
It is difficult to predict what will happen. I think the Technical Committee has quite a lot of discretion. Today looks a washout, but the forecast was similar for the 5th Women's T20 England vs West Indies, and they got a 5 over game in - although that was one game not three. Sunday looks a bit showery, but not an impossibility for some cricket. I know there is a preference to get the game done without reserve day if possible, but that looks unlikely. Bowl out is available, but I personally doubt they will use it. I think technical committee can propose to ECB an additional reserve day if they need - I do remember a T20 QF several years ago that went into a second reserve day. Every competition is different - the Women's T20 world cup had no reserve day and if a knockout was washed out, the higher seeded team wins. That would have suited us perfectly - sadly this approach is not being used in T20 blast.
ReplyDeleteYou have to remember that what rain falls tomorrow is on top of what deluge drops today. October isn't that warm and drying out will be a slow process, and Edgbaston is a slow drier. The balls are in the Technical Committee's hands.
ReplyDeleteImagine we go in with Hales, Duckett, Clarke, Samit and Wasim - all can bowl slow tweakers which you would think would be more accurate than say Jake Ball. Got a worrying feeling the Technical Committee will recommend playing Finals Day next Sat/Sun with forecast being much drier. Presumably sky will have to accommodate this re-arrangement?
ReplyDeleteDo you not think that Sky have some part of the Technical Committee...
DeleteIt would be far better all round if a re-arranged date could be allocated to much enjoyed Finals Day - based on the best weather forecast available . A five overs per side thrash is preferable to a bowl out where the batters in the side would presumably take little part in . Playing an important cricket final in October was always going to be a huge gamble . But I can quite understand why the ECB did it . Most people expected some spectators to be allowed in to see the game after 1st Oct. The plan has just backfired -dictated of course by SODS LAW.
ReplyDeleteThe one redeeming picture of the whole sorry mess is that thousands of tickets were NOT sold to the faithfull fans . Otherwise today we would have countless people in the ground cold ,wet and shivering with prospect of play almost zero
All stakeholders have got round a socially distanced table. Playing conditions tomorrow to be the same as today. If the first semi can't be completed, they've added a new reserve day on Wed. However, if it is it will finish tomorrow. Worst case scenario bowlouts for 2nd Semi and Final
ReplyDeletePerhaps the Virus has affected their brains!!!
DeletePeter Moores once picked all batsmen to bowl in a bowl out for Lancashire. It wasn’t very successful but I’ve no doubt he took the positives from it.
ReplyDeleteLuke Fletcher in goal if it goes to penalties.
ReplyDeleteWith light rain to 5pm, on an already sodden outfield, and an apparent cut off of 8pm today, and the announcement that the finals day will be completed today come what may if Surrey vs Glos has a result; it looks like 2nd semi and final will be bowl outs. After all, if they can fit Surrey vs Glos in at 7pm - surely they have to do so. Maybe they could extend the 8pm for reserve day, but who knows? Not sure why they put an extra reserve day Wednesday in (good idea), but then said they would only use it if all 3 matches were washed out today, rather than if any of the matches were incomplete?
ReplyDeleteFor a bowl out, what about
Imad
Carter
Patel
Patterson-White (does say in rules can be anyone from the county's professional staff)
Mullaney
?
Though in practice they'd go Ball and DC surely, and I'm not sure pace on is the way in a bowl out
Perversely, hoping today is a total washout
Today ( Sunday) looks tricky all round and anything could happen
ReplyDeleteEven if there is no more rain at Edgebaston today can they get the playing surface dry enough to play the 3 matches. A tremendous amount if rain fell on Birmingham yesterday , virtually rained non stop for 20+ hours.
Pleased to see an extra day has been allocated ( wed) which hopefully will see a proper conclusion as opposed to the dreaded ” bowlout”
Inspection at midday if no further rain
ReplyDeleteDish TV interviewed one of the matchday officials The regulations must be different and more flexible for Finals Day as he confirmed 3 x 5 overs games could start as late as 6pm. This will obviously be a poor outcome but much better than a silly 'bowl out' to decide the finalists and eventual winner. In normal circumstances, with 25,000 being there having waited around for potentially 2 days, I would always be desperate for these 3 short games to be played but surely if conditions are that bad at whatever cut off point there is, only these short games can be accommodated is it not better at that point to switch to the new reserve day of Wednesday? He said they would prefer to finish it today as there are showers around the Edgbaston area the next two days and then what if, when Wednesday comes round the forecast has changed and it's now rainy which would mean we're back to the completely unsatisfactory bowl out situation again. As it the first time in the competitions 18 year history it's gone to the reserve day, the real problem is obviously the scheduled timing of October to host the day but we all know the reasons for this huge gamble.
ReplyDelete12.2.2 first 3 bullet points: priorities of the Technical Committee
Delete• To ensure that both Semi-Finals and the Final are completed on the scheduled day of the matches (minimum overs to constitute a match is 5 overs per team).
• To ensure wherever possible a 20-over per side floodlit Final.
• To ensure that wherever possible both semi-finals are of the same duration.
The first semi-final is underway!
ReplyDeletesluggish pitch. A good toss to win for Surrey in SF1 it seems. But spinners seem key despite wet conditions. Pitch may suit our bowlers very well, but our batting line up less so
ReplyDeleteLancs win the toss, and bat - both captains seemed happy with the outcome of Lancs batting first and Notts Outlaws chasing
ReplyDeleteFor those like me without SKY Sports you can still see these Semi Finals and Final by way of UTUBE. Its thanks to Haseeb Sports . As of now 5.55pm there are only 181 watching the live stream. The Sky commentary is slightly ahead of the pictures -(which are perfectly watchable )
ReplyDeleteThe score after 10 overs is Lancs 84-4 . So surely you would think that with Notts batting line-up they could get 100 off 11 to get them into the final .
Surely today is the day that Alex H ales comes good with a couple of good scores obtained in rapid fashion . You owe us one ALEX? !
Thanks for the u tube tip, I’ve told my son and he says thanks.
DeleteCome on notts
I'm listening to 5 Live Sports Extra - Lancs total seems manageable, but concerns over Chris Nash - injured in field, has gone off - will he be able to open, if not Clarke open and Duckett or Moores to 3? Not ideal
ReplyDeleteGood start for Notts
ReplyDelete23-0 after 2 overs.
Get the feeling that Hales will do well today . He loves the big occasion
Duckett opened, presume Nash out of final - Trego in? Win for Notts - but some rain around again on some forecasts...
ReplyDeleteGood luck folks .
ReplyDeleteSloppy in field - 2 missed chances already by Outlaws
ReplyDeleteAmla gone - but a missed stumping the ball before, if we're going to win, got to be better in field, 3 missed chances now
ReplyDeleteWell done Notts
ReplyDeleteBut at 19-3 you gave us a fright
Am pleased for Ben n Ducket after last years setback in the semis. Must gave been hard to take!
Well its a troph y at Trent Bridge after the most bizzare season for 25 plus years year
Pressure now lifted from the top table! The poor continuous 4 day form can be glossed over.
But in PROPER CRICKET ) we are keft wanting ? R
Sorry ! The last posting didnt make much sense - too many spelling errors !
ReplyDeleteTOO MUCH RED WINE!
Well the trophy win has certainly given me a boost and no doubt many other Notts fans.
A real topsy turvy day full of massive highs and lows. I feared the worst when Alex was out first ball.
Has the win altered the 2021 retained list in any way?
Anyone know what the prize money amounted to ?
Does it go to the Club or is it shared out amongst the playing squad?
Truly amazing they got all three games in after 55 hours of continuous rain out of 56
Well done to the Edgbaston ground staff.
At last , something for the long suffering Notts fans to cheer about.
But the poor four day form cannot be swept under the carpet. !?