Worcestershire LV= Championship at New Road Draw

 

Day 4 

OPENERS PRODUCE MAMMOTH EFFORT

Batting All Day to Secure a Draw and Tumbling Records in the Process

As expected Notts achieved a draw at New Road as Ben Slater and Haseeb Hameed batted throughout the day and scored tons. It was marvellous achievement and the pair in fact added 351 runs over the two innings of the match over an incredible 158.5 overs. Who said Notts batsmen cannot bat long!!! Apart from one pre-lunch spell from Alzarri Joseph where Slater was troubled outside his off stump, there was never a hint of a wicket all day, another one of continuous sunshine. It made it even more baffling to how Notts managed to collapse twice yesterday on a completely lifeless slow surface.

It is only over the last 40 years or so that the number of balls faced by batsmen has been widely recorded in County cricket but Hameed who faced 635 balls in the match broke the known county championship record which was held by the former Somerset captain Jamie Cox; the Tasmanian faced 625 balls against Hampshire at Northland Road, Southampton in 1999.

Joseph (New Road End) and Morris (Diglis End)opened the bowling. Notts got their 100 in 40th over via a leg glance for four by Hameed off Joseph. Slater got to 50 off 109 balls. The second hundred partnership between Hameed and Slater in the game, the first time the same openers have achieved that since the match versus Essex at Trent Bridge in 1995 where Mat Dowman and Tim Robinson achieved the feat. D'Oliveira came on the 44th over. An extra cover boundary for Slater off the leg spinner took the partnership past their first innings total of 115. A clip for a single by Hameed off d'Oliveira brought him his 50 off 153 balls. Joseph returned as Worcester captain looked through a breakthrough and he troubled Slater a few times outside off stump, once celebrating what he thought was certain edge to Cox, umpire Warren would have none of it. Notts got to lunch on 144 on 0 off 65 overs with Slater on 77 and Hameed on 61.

Mitchell (New Road End) and Barnard (Diglis End) were the attack immediately after lunch. The Notts 150 came via an on driven four by Hameed off Mitchell. A two for Slater off Mitchell in the 72nd over meant that Notts took lead. Charlie Morris returned from the Diglis End for the 79th over, the game however was slowly dying. The new ball was not taken at 80 overs (and in fact never taken)as D'Oliveira returned for the 86th over. A single to short third man off d'Oliveira saw Slater to his ton off 268 balls. Joe Leach returned for the 89th over. The 200 partnership came up in the 91st over via a two for Hameed off Joe Leach. Jake Libby came on for the 95th over. Tea was taken at the end of the over with Notts 213 for 0 with Hameed on 98 and Slater on 107.

Ten minutes after tea, a swept four for Hameed off d'Oliveira saw him to his second ton of the match off 288 balls (13x4). It was 29th such instance in Notts history. A single for Hameed off Libby saw the opening pair beat the previous record opening partnership versus Worcestershire made by George Gunn and Dodge Whysall at Trent Bridge in 1924 when they put on 220. The players pumped fists at 1650 as Notts declared on 236 for 0 off 109 overs with Slater and Hameed both unbeaten on 114. Slater faced 323 and Hameed 331 balls respectively. 

Not a very entertaining days cricket; it was purely about saving the game and chalking up milestones. Well done Haseeb and Ben. Notts took 12 points out of the fixture and currently prop up Group 1 of the County Championship.MAG

Day 3

CENTURY FOR HAMEED BUT PLENTY OF NAIVE CRICKET BY NOTTS, THAT ARE ASKED TO FOLLOW-ON

On another bright sunny day at New Road, Notts inexplicably were made to follow-on after they managed to go from 115-0 to 172-5 and then 261-5 to 276 all out. Two dramatic collapses occurring on a blameless slow and low surface, where concentration was very much name of the game. The dismissals of Duckett, Mullaney, Moores and Chappell were particularly x-rated. Luckily Haseeb Hameed has concentration in bucket loads and it was through his efforts and fellow opener Ben Slater that Notts went into the final day, 73 runs behind with 10 second wickets to fall. Another collapse tomorrow would be simply inexcusable. Hameed has so far batted for 410 balls in the game and registered his first Notts ton (111) in Notts inadequate first innings total of 276 and followed it up with 37 not out. Slater has scored 45 and 45 not out off 244 balls. The remaining nine Notts batsmen have faced a grand total of 183 balls or 22% of the total balls faced, seven of them failing to get beyond single figures on the dead surface. Criminal!

Leach (Diglis End) and d'Oliveira (New Road End) opened up first thing. In D'Oliveira's third over, he had Slater (45) sharply caught at slip by Mitchell, 115 for one in the 50th over. The hapless Duckett (5) did not last long caught low down at backward point at the second attempt by Barnard off Joseph, 130 for two off 56 overs. The left hander failing to move his feet and hitting the ball too faraway from his body in Joseph's first over of the morning. Clarke on 8 on the drive was badly dropped by Leach at mid on off d'Oliveira. Clarke (27) though did not capitalise on his luck, losing his off stump to Morris in the 67thover, 164 for three. Morris picked up another wicket in his next over,James half forward was plumb leg before for 4, 168 for four in the 69th over. Mullaney (2) was next man to go as he shouldered arms and was bowled to a ballfrom Morris that came back in, 172 for five. Moores got off the mark with a pulled six off d'Oliveira. Notts limped to lunch on 192 for five off 76 overswith Hameed on 86 and Moores on 15.

Morris continued after lunch but d'Oliveira having bowled an unchanged spell of 16 overs throughout the morning took a rest and Barnard had his first bowl of the day. A single for Moores off Barnard saw Notts to their first batting point; the new ball was immediately taken with Notts 200 for five off 80 overs. In the first over with the new ball, Hameed on 92 was then dropped low down by Cox standing up to Moores. Hameed got to very patient and determined 268 ball (9x4) maiden Notts ton with a couple of runs through point off Leach. Joseph came on for a two over burst but made way for d'Oliveria from the New Road End and a long hop from the leg spinner was hit for 6 by Moores over mid wicket, Moores followed it with an offside boundary and pulled six over square leg which brought up his 50 off 68 balls. The hit also brought up the Notts 250 in the 94th over. Moores hit the fourth ball of the over to the extra cover ropes. The fifth ball was reverse hit for four. The bowler had very much the last laugh at Moores (62 off 71 balls – 9x4, 3x6)holed out to long on where Leach took the catch, 24 off the over, 261 for six.The sixth wicket had added 89 runs in 24 overs. 

Naive

Moores had treated the over as being the last over in a Blast game rather than a 4-day contest; his dismissal was the start of collapse number two. Patterson-White fell plumb leg before for a six ball duck, 261 for seven. Hameed's long innings came to end when he caught behind by Cox off Leach, 266 for 8. Hameed 111 off 304 balls (10x4). A mix-upsaw Fletcher run out Chappell; Fletcher going for a suicidal run off Joseph to Mitchell at mid on an the ex-Pears captain throwing to the keepers end, 276 for nine. Joseph bowled Paterson first ball as Notts were all out for 276 all out off 104.4 overs. Worcester had bowled well as a unit, bowling much more accurately than Notts, Morris with those three early morning wickets finishing with 3-30. Tea was immediately taken.

With Notts recent history of not handling pressurised situations in red ball cricket particularly well, Joe Leach probably did not have to think long before deciding to enforce the follow on. Luckily Hameed and Slater handled the situation perfectly and were relatively untroubled throughout the 35 over session. Morris (New Road End) and Leach (Diglis End) opened the bowling in the second innings. After two overs, Morris made way for Barnard. In the 11th over, Joseph came on from the Diglis End. Next over, d'Oliveira was introduced, but Hameed and Slater looked settled. There was a break while Slater was treated for a nose bleed. Libby and Mitchell had a whirl towards the end and back came d’Oliveira. Stumps were drawn at 1823 with Notts 87 for 0 off 35 overs with Slater on 45 and Hameed on 37. The day had gone full circle with Hameed having a stand out day.

Well done to both openers for keeping Notts in the game and to Moores for his 62; but the efforts from the rest were very sub-standard. The long wait for a win goes on….. MAG

Day 2

A SLOW DAY AT NEW ROAD AS PEARS EKE OUT LARGE SCORE

On a soporific second day where only three wickets fell, Notts finished 337 runs behind with their entire first innings wickets still standing. The playing surface is very slow and low as can be expected following the winter floods, but apart from a few balls that kept low from West Indian paceman Alzarri Joseph barely a ball misbehaved all day. With defensive field settings to boot, it made for a hard view, on another day of continuous sunshine. Worcestershire’s overnight pair added a further 25 to the overnight score until Joseph (61) was caught off Chappell. With Barnard falling 25 runs and eight overs later it means that lunch was delayed for 30 minutes as Notts failed to grab the final wicket. Indeed it was not until 1507 before Patterson-White claimed his second wicket of the day and fourth of the innings to finally complete Worcester’s first innings on 436, some recovery from 216-7.The last wicket pair of Leach (84) and Morris added 81 in 34 overs to frustrate Notts, the former farming the bowling extremely well. Notts attack, without Broad and the injured Ball, very much lacking a cutting edge. We feared the worst when Notts went in to bat but Hameed and Slater made virtually untroubled progress as Notts closed on 99-0.

When play resumed at 1100, Notts needed quick wickets and started with Fletcher (Diglis End) and Chappell (New Road End). In the second over, Joseph reached his 50 off 88 balls with a lofted boundary off Chappell. In the 101st over, a four for Joseph off Fletcher brought up the 100 partnership for the 8th wicket. In the 104th over,Chappell picked up Joseph (61 off 101 balls 8x4,1x6) when the West Indian lofted the ball to Clarke at short mid on, 330 for eight. It was a tame end to a fine innings. The partnership was worth 114 runs in 36 overs. Three overs later, Barnard reached his 50 in 125 balls with a single off Fletcher. Next over, Patterson-White replaced Chappell. Notts failed to get the final bowling point with Worcester standing on 352 for eight off 110 overs. After a seven over spell, Dane Paterson replaced Fletcher and in the following over Barnard (58 off 140 balls – 7x4) making room to cut edged Patterson-White into Moores;gloves, 355 for nine. Zak Chappell returned for the 119th over and in the following over Leach pulled him for six towards the Premier Inn. Mullaney came on just before the time for the scheduled lunch break and the following over Leach hit Patterson-White for a straight six, But as Worcester were nine down at 1300, the morning session was extended by 30 minutes. Lyndon James finally came on for a bowl in the 128th over. A cover drive boundary by Leach off Mullaney saw him to 50 off 99 balls. A six over mid wicket by Leach off Mullaney brought up the Pears 400 and Leach followed it up with a legside four off the next delivery. James switched ends but Worcester got to lunch on 409 for nine off 134 overs with Leach on 64 and Morris on 3. Worcester 104-2 off 38 overs in the 150 minute session.

After lunch, Leach on 65 was dropped at mid on by Mullaney off Chappell a swirling difficult chance running back. Leach then hit James for six over mid wicket. Notts were desperate to wrap up the innings as Morris was dropped on seven by Moores standing up to Lyndon James. Patterson-White returned and took the final wicket as Leach (84 off 161 balls - 6x4, 4x6) edged him to Mullaney at slip, Worcestershire 436 all out off 145.1 overs with Patterson-White taking 4-114 off 41.1 overs, the last wicket had added a further 81 runs.

Notts had 44 overs to bat as Leach (Diglis End) and Morris (New Road End) after their large partnership opened the bowling to defensive fields including both a third man and a fine leg. Alzarri Joseph came on for the eighth over. Notts got to tea on 31 for 0 off 12 overs with Hameed on 18 and Slater on 9.

A four for Slater off Barnard who replaced Leach brought up the Notts 50 in the 17th over. Mitchell came on to bowl in the 25th over, as scoring slowed down to a virtual trickle. With D'Oliveira off the field due to personal reasons Jake Libby was introduced for the 37th over and bowled four overs. In the last over of the day bowled by Joseph a single for Hameed saw him to a 136 ball half century. Notts closed on 99 for 0 off 44 overs with Hameed on 51 and Slater on 41. With two days to go, there is still a lot of cricket to be played in this match as Notts try and catch Worcester’s huge first innings total. MAG

Day 1 

SEE-SAW DAY AS NOTTS FIGHT BACK STRONGLY AFTER LIBBY SETS-UP PEARS' SOLID START

before late-middle order revival edges Pears ahead again

On a day of clear blue skies, Worcester finished on 305 for seven, after former Notts opener Jake Libby made 117 off 217 balls (10x4, 2x6) against his old county. It was a fine innings and Libby, like so many ex-Notts players has seemed to blossom after a change of county. Libby shared an opening stand 140 with Daryl Mitchell who made 59. Notts fought back in the middle session, setting run saving fields without slips, Worcester, slipped from 140-0 to 216-7, but the all too familiar story of later order partnership held Notts up with Ed Barnard (40 not out) and Alzarri Joseph (46 not out) addingan unbroken 89 for the eight wicket. Luke Fletcher was very much the stand out performer for Notts with 23-5-43-2; the old virtues of line and length which he always employs were not backed up by the rest of the Notts seam attack. Liam Patterson-White, getting some turn out the first day pitch, delivered the ball of the day to bowl Riki Wessels and then removed Ben Cox leg before for a duck and had a long bowl taking 2-88 from his 31 overs.

Worcestershire won the toss and batted, Fletcher came in for the unavailable Broad. Chappell (Diglis End) and Paterson (New Road End) opened the bowling as Worcester had a fine start, 40 for 0 off 8 overs. Paterson had a good leg before shout against Libby but apart from that Mitchell and Libby made hay. Mullaney turned to Fletcher for the ninth over. With Worcester 54 for 0 off 13 overs,Patterson-White replaced Paterson. Fletcher bowled a six over spell costing a frugal five, he was replaced by Mullaney. Libby lofted Patterson-White for a straight six. With Notts desperate for a wicket, Paterson returned. Libbyreached his 50 bizarrely. Running a two, Slater fielded and threw to Moores whodecided to try and run out Mitchell at the non strikers end, four over throws and six to Libby. Patterson-White changed ends and replaced Mullaney. Libby in the last over before lunch, was dropped on 62 by Duckett at leg slip off Paterson. Worcester who had completely dominated the opening session went to lunch 122 for 0 off 32 overs with Libby on 65 and Mitchell on 45.

Fletcher (Diglis End) and Chappell (New Road End) started the second session bowling to very defensive field placings in effort to curb the run scoring. In the 41st over, Mitchell (59 off 111 balls) edged Fletcher to Moores who took the catch standing up, 140 for one. Three overs later, Chappell had Fell leg before for 1, 141 for two. There was a double bowling change inthe 47th and 48th overs, Paterson and Patterson-White coming on. An out swinger from Paterson was tickled behind by Roderick (1) as Moores took his second catch, 156 for 3 in the 49th over. D'Oliveira (3) was run out from a direct hit from Fletcher. Going for a quick single off Patterson-White he hesitated but Fletcher from short third man hit the stumps, 169 for 4. Jake Libby got to his ton with a hooked six over square leg off Paterson. In the last over before tea, Patterson-White bowled Wessels for 13 the ball pitching leg and hitting off. At tea Worcester 210 for five off 63.2 overs with Libby on 111. Notts had come back well in the middle session restricting Worcester to 88for 5.

Libby was finally removed for 117, Moores standing up catching him off Fletcher, 216 first six off 67 overs. Next over, Cox going for a paddle sweep was leg before to Patterson-White for a duck, 216 for seven. This is as good as it got for Notts has they wicketless for the remaining 29 overs of the day. Chappell came on from the Diglis End in the 77th over. Joseph was dropped on 18, a sharp low chance to his left by bowler Zak Chappell. Joseph and Barnard reached their50 partnership in 16 overs. Notts took the new ball with Worcester 266 for seven for 84 overs. Joseph smashed a short ball from Fletcher for six oversquare leg as both batsmen were untroubled against the second new ball. MAG

 

Notts XI

Ben Slater

Haseeb Hameed

Ben Duckett

Joe Clarke

Lyndon James

Steven Mullaney c

Tom Moores x

Liam Patterson-White

Luke Fletcher

Zak Chappell

Dane Paterson

Date (last day)	Opposition	Venue	Toss	Result	Bat’	Bowl’	Total points
29 June 2018	WORC’SHIRE	TB	U	D	4	3	12
23 July 2018	SURREY	TB	U	LI183R	1	2	3
22 Aug 2018	Hampshire	Rose Bowl	U	L270R	-	3	3
31 Aug 2018	Surrey	The Oval	U	LI125R	-	3	3
07 Sep 2018	YORKSHIRE	TB	U	D	5	2	12
13 Sep 2018	ESSEX	TB	W	L8W	-	3	3
26 Sep 2018	SOMERSET	TB	L	LI146R	-	2	2
08 Apr 2019	YORKSHIRE	TB	U	D	4	3	12
13 Apr 2019	SOMERSET	TB	U	LI14R	2	3	4*
16 May 2019	Essex	Chelmsford	W	L8W	-	3	3
23 May 2019	Hampshire	Newclose	U	L244R	1	3	4
06 June 2019	Warwickshire	Edgbaston	L	D	-	1	6
12 June 2019	HAMPSHIRE	WELBECK	U	D	-	-	5
20 June 2019	Kent	Tunbridge Wells	U	L285R	2	3	5
03 July 2019	ESSEX	TB	W	LI123R	1	1	2
09 July 2019	Somerset	Taunton	L	L132R	1	3	4
15 July 2019	SURREY	TB	L	L167R	-	3	3
21 Aug 2019	Yorkshire	Scarborough	U	L143R	-	3	3
12 Sep 2019	KENT	TB	L	L227R	-	3	3
19 Sep 2019	WARWICKSHIRE	TB	L	L8W	5	1	6
26 Sep 2019	Surrey	The Oval	L	D	-	2	7
04 Aug 2020	Derbyshire	TB (away**)	L	L3W	3	3	6
11 Aug 2020	YORKSHIRE	TB	L	L90R	4	3	7
18 Aug 2020	Lancashire	TB (away**)	L	D	5	3	16
25 Aug 2020	Leicestershire	Grace Road	W	D	3	3	14
09 Sep 2020	DURHAM	TB	L	D	5	3	16
11 Apr 2021	DURHAM	TB	W	D	2	3	13
18 Apr 2021	WARWICKSHIRE	TB	W	L3W	2	3	5

* Deducted 1 point for slow over rate

Played 28 Won 0 Drawn 10 Lost 18 Batting 50 Bowling 71 Points 177