Worcestershire LV= Championship at Trent Bridge Win

Day 4

TENACIOUS NOTTS BOWL TO VICTORY

Career Best Match Figures for Fletcher

Notts made it three wins a row after another superb day where they took 14 wickets Pears wickets in 72.3 overs. The day was played in freezing temperatures with gloomy overhead conditions. Indeed, Notts biggest enemy appeared to be the weather itself. However with the lights on for most of the day, luckily only two overs were lost as Notts got home by an innings and 170 runs with 18.2 overs unused. Notts bowlers once again hunted as pack, but the undoubted hero was Luke Fletcher with career best innings (7-37) and match figures (10-57). Fletcher now has 31 championship wickets @11.96 and is in form of his life. Broad bowling in hostile fashion throughout gained match figures 5-59. Dane Paterson switching ends for the final session took the four of the final five wickets to finish with a second innings analysis of 4-49, a championship best. Apart from Jake Libby’s 64 in the Worcestershire second innings, the away team had no answer to the relentless Notts attack as they bowled out for 80 and 150 in a grand total of 90.3 overs.

Worcester started the day on 53-6. In the third over of the morning, Tongue (7) edged Fletcher into Moores’ gloves, 54 for seven. Joseph (4) lasted eight balls before going the same way as Tongue as Fletcher went seven up, 60 for eight. Cox (19) somehow survived for 61 balls before Broad picked up a deserved second wicket as Moores pouched his fourth catch of the innings,74 for nine. Next over, Leach on 5 was dropped by Clarke at first slip off Fletcher. Pennington (4) was the last man out edging Broad to Duckett at second slip. Worcestershire 80 all our off 32.5 overs with Leach 7 not out. Fletcher (16-6-37-7) and Broad (13.5-4-28-3) destroying the visitors batting..

Broad and Fletcher were kept on as Worcester followed on 320 runs behind. In the second over Mitchell on 1 was dropped by Hameed at third slip off Fletcher. But in his next over Fletcher got his man as Mitchell was caught behind for 1, 7 for one. Rain stopped play at 1250 and an early lunch was taken with Worcester 10 for 1 off 6 overs with Libby on 6 and Fell on 2.

Play resumed at 1330, Broad bowling the first over, but Fletcher made way for Lyndon James. In the 13th over, Paterson replaced Broad from the Pavilion End.Fletcher returned for the 20th over but after one ball rain stopped play at 1423 with Worcester 49 for one with Libby on 29 and Fell on 13.

Play resumed nine minutes later with two overs lost. The 50 partnership between Libby and Fell was achieved in 102 balls via an extra cover boundary for Libby. In the 22nd over, Fell (13) was out chipping the ball straight to Slater at short leg, the ninth wicket in the match to Fletcher, 63 for two. Haynes (0)lasted three balls before hitting the ball straight back to Fletcher, two wickets in the over for the Bulwell Bomber, 63 for three. Next over, Libby hit Paterson through the covers to reach 50 off 60 balls. Paterson who proved expensive in his initial spell was replaced by Broad for the 27th over. Broad decided to go for short ball barrage against D'Oliveira and Libby. In the 30th over Mullaney turned to Patterson-White who conceded 11 in his opening over. Next over, a boundary for D'Oliveira off Broad brought up the Worcester 100. Libby finally went clipping Broad to Paterson at square leg who took a low diving catch. Libby out for 64 (80 balls – 8x4), 103 for four. Tea was taken with Worcester 114 for 4 off 35 overs with D'Oliveira on 26 and Wessels on 3.

Paterson switched ends after tea and bowled an outstanding spell of 11.4-5-17-4 from the Radcliffe Road End to take Notts over the line. 

James supported to start with,and it was the youngster who took the sixth wicket as Wessels (10) fell to a sharp catch at second slip by Duckett, 124 for five. In the gathering gloom, Cox fell leg before to Paterson for an 18 ball duck,129 for 6. Broad replaced James from the Pavilion End for the 47th over. Paterson picked up his second wicket as D'Oliveira’s (31) 88 ball innings came to end as he played early and got a leading edge, as the ball gently dropped to Mullaney at mid off, 136 for 7 after 48 overs. D’Oliveira sinking to his knees before slowly departing. Joseph fell next over tickling a leg side delivery from Broad to Moores, 136 for 8. Patterson-White replaced Broad for the 55th over. Paterson removed Tongue's (6) off stump, 149 for nine. At 1734,the South African picked up his fourth wicket when he had Leach leg before for 7, Worcestershire 150 all out off 57.4 overs. Notts, just as on 2018, had beaten Pears by an innings in less than two days playing time as they now lead Group 1. They left the pitch to a standing ovation from a frozen but elated crowd who had waited so long to see their team in action. MAG

Day 3

NOTTS BATTING RESILIENCE ALLOWS DUCKETT AND THEN FLETCHER TO CASH-IN

Ben Duckett scores an unbeaten century, supported by Lyndon James and extended by Captain Mullaney, before Wholehearted Luke Fletcher goes nap in the late sunshine

Notts closed a dramatic day with a lead of 347 with Worcestershire only having four second innings wickets standing. Ben Duckett scored a Notts championship best 177 not out and was well supported by Steven Mullaney (88) and Lyndon James (78) as Notts raced to 400 for 5 declared off 84.3 overs after looking in a spot of bother over night at 51 for 3. There followed a dramatic final 17 overs as Worcestershire collapsed to 53 for six with Luke Fletcher taking 5 for 20 off 8 overs including four leg before dismissals including three in five balls.

Play got under way 25 minutes late due to light rain with six overs lost. It was a very cold morning with the temperature only nine degrees centigrade.

Pennington (Pavilion End) and Joseph (Radcliffe Road End) initially opened up with Tongue replacing Joseph. With the out field still damp, the Worcester bowlers were struggling to get movement with the ball, and they were too many short balls which played into Duckett's strength and he capitalised with a string of early boundaries. A two for Duckett off Tongue saw the 50 partnership between himself and James in 62 balls. Later in the same over, Duckett reached a run a ball 50. James despite some playing and missing has an excellent temperament and proved a fine foil to the quicker scoring Duckett. Leach appeared in the 28th over but both batsmen were now set. Mitchell came on in the 31st over from the Radcliffe Road End but after two overs he was replaced by Joseph. Pennington returned in the 38th over. The Notts 150 came up in the last over before lunch bowled by Joseph. Notts 150 for three after 41 overs at the interval with Duckett on 66 and James on 40. Notts had added 99 without loss in an hour and 45 minutes batting. A fine session for the Green and Golds.

Straight after lunch the hundred partnership between Duckett and James came up in 156 balls with a two for Duckett off Pennington. Very short little rain stoppage in play at 1359 with Notts 153 for three off 42.4 overs with Duckett on 69 and James on 40. Play resumed at 1422 with a further six overs lost. Tongue returned from the Pavilion End for the 48th over. A three through the covers for James off Tongue saw him to his half ton off 112 balls. Next over the 51st, D'Oliveira came on with his leg spinners.The following over from Tongue which included two balls went for 15 including boundaries for both batsman. The 150 partnership came up in 221 balls as Duckett swept a three off D'Oliveira, this also saw Notts to their first batting point. Duckett got a chanceless ton off 126 balls with sweep for four through fine leg in an over which cost the leg spinner for 14. After a four over spell, D'Oliveira made way for Mitchell. The second batting bonus point was achieved in the 63rd over with a single for Duckett off Mitchell. Two balls later a James single brought up the 200 stand in 285 balls. Next over,Pennington returned. A heavy shower stopped play at 1548 with Notts 255 for 3off 64 overs with Duckett on 127 and James on 78. Tea was immediately taken.

Play recommenced at 1620 with four overs lost.James was removed in the first over of the resumption. Trying to hit the ball through mid wicket he got a leading edge and only succeeded in skying Mitchell to d'Oliveira at extra cover. James out for 78, one short of his career best, off 162 balls (10x4), 256 for four. The stand was worth 205 in 49 overs which beat the previous fourth wicket partnership against The Pears of 157 made at New Road between Riki Wessels and Titch Taylor in 2015.

Just like in the recent Essex game, Mullaney played like an old pro and provided vital acceleration to the innings. He pulled Pennington for six over mid wicket and next over hoisted Mitchell over long off for another six. Continuing with putting bat to ball, a four by the captain through mid wicket off Mitchell saw Notts to 300 in the 71st over. The 50 partnership off 44 balls between Mullaney and Duckett came via an edged four by Mullaney through the vacant slip area off Leach. Mullaney reached 50 off 40 balls with a single off Leach. Duckett got to his 150 off 175 balls with a single off Mitchell. Mullaney hoisted Mitchell for six over square leg in the 79th over, later that over Notts got to 350. With thefield now well spread the 100 partnership between Duckett and Mullaney was achieved in 91 balls via single from Mullaney off Joseph. In the next over,Mullaney hit another six into The Fridge off Mitchell. Mullaney got an edge to an attempted pull shot off Tongue, Cox taking the catch. Mullaney outfor 88 off 73 balls (8x4,4x6). The fifth wicket had added 142 in 20 overs. Notts declared on 400 for five off 84.3 overs. Duckett was unbeaten on 177 off 195 balls with 19 fours. It was a chanceless innings with mixed the orthodox with the innovative strokes, with sweeps very much to the fore. It was his first ton of 2021 and his fifth of his Notts career. Moores was 1 not out.

Broad (Pavilion End) and Fletcher ( Radcliffe Road End) opened the bowling as Worcester had 17 overs face in the early evening sunshine.Fletcher picked up a wicket with his second ball as Libby (2) fell to afine one handed catch at short square leg by Slater, 6 for one. Fell (10) after leg glancing a four through fine leg off Broad was dismissed the following ball as he hit another leg side ball from the England man into Moores’ gloves,21 for two in the seventh over. In the following over, Mitchell (9) was leg before to Fletcher offering no shot, 21 for three. Fletcher clearly enjoying himself was trying to stir up the crowd. D'Oliveira lasted three balls before also departing leg before to Fletcher, 21 for 4. With the crowd now in a frenzy, Wessels departed first ball plumb leg before to Fletcher. Cox survived the hat trick ball, 21 for five after eight overs. Paterson replaced Broad (6-19-1) for the 13th over. From the first ball of the 16th over, Fletcher had Haynes leg before for 14, 46 for six. Worcestershire closed on 53 for six off 17 overs with Cox on 8 and Tongue on 7. Fletcher(8-4-20-5) steaming in from the Radcliffe Road End was superb once more. The fans had rewarded for their patience with a fantastic day for Notts. Three years ago, Notts won by an innings at New Road after the first two days were washed out, can they replicate such a victory in near identical circumstances tomorrow? MAG

Day 2

IT'S A WASH-OUT ON DAY 2

Day 1

DAY OF FRUSTRATIONS AS SPECTATORS RETURN

Only 15.5 overs were possible on a miserable day played in decidedly Baltic conditions at Trent Bridge. Members after a 20 month wait were finally granted access to the ground but faced with the poor weather forecast and the draconian regulations set by the government only about 800 took-up the offer. 

(Bracegirdle on commentary said that the club had scanned 1500 members into the ground for the start of play)

Before play started, Ben Slater and Tom Moores received their county caps from Darren Bicknell and Chris Read respectively who gave short speeches, a nice touch from the club to present them in front of a crowd.

Worcester won the toss and elected to bowl on the same strip as used for the Essex match. Notts were unchanged. Leach (Radcliffe Road End) and Tongue (Pavilion End) opened the bowling. Pennington replaced Tongue for the eighth over. In his second over Pennington was hooked for six by Slater. The following over Joseph replaced Leach and his first ball was hit to the square leg ropes by Hameed. Slater fell to a catch behind by Cox off a full length ball from Pennington for 15, 38 for one off 11.1 overs. Rain immediately stopped playing at 1146.

Play resumed at 1455 with 32 overs lost but rain stopped play again at 1507 with Notts 45 for one off 13.5 overs, Slater on 24 and Duckett on 5. 

Play resumed once again at 1522 with a further four overs lost. A brisk ball from Joseph shot up off a length and found the edge of Hameed's (24) bat and Cox took the catch, 50 for 2 off 14.5 overs. The players went off a ball later, yet again for rain at 1530. 

Play resumed 12 minutes later with another four overs lost. Clarke shuffling across his crease edged to Cox as Pennington took his second wicket, Notts 51 for three off 15.5 overs with Duckett on 11.Rain immediately stopped play once more at 1545.

With about 25 spectators left on the ground, the players re-emerged at 1815 and the plan was play a further 7.1 overs as Luke Fletcher came out as night watchman but before play commenced the umpires spotted a wet patch on the pitch and players trudged off once more, shortly afterwards the rain returned. This episode summed up a truly inhospitable day.

Worcester had won an important toss in ideal bowling conditions, further exacerbated by the stoppages. Notts will be relieved they had only lost three wickets. Tomorrow's forecast is also poor with further rain, low temperatures and gale force winds. Mother nature has not kind to the returning members. MAG

Email sent 19/05/21:

The Nottinghamshire vs Worcestershire fixture was originally expected to take place on an off-centre pitch, closer to the Yu Energy Stand on the Fox Road side of the ground. 

 

Pitch allocations are, however, always subject to change and the fixture will now take place on the opposite side of the square, closer to the Smith Cooper Stand at the Bridgford Road side of the ground.

 

For this reason, it is now necessary for us to allocate a slightly different seat to your original booking.

 

If you have already printed or downloaded your ticket(s), this means you will need to do so again. If not, the updated ticket(s) will be reflected when you come to downloading them ahead of your visit to Trent Bridge.

 

 Peter's XIII

Haseeb Hameed

Ben Slater

Ben Duckett

Joe Clarke 

Lyndon James

Steven Mullaney

Tom Moores

Liam Patterson-White

Stuart Broad

Luke Fletcher

Dane Paterson

Zak Chappell

Joe Evison

With Stuart Broad unsurprisingly included in the England squad to face New Zealand and that squad's "meet-up" on the 28th; Notts most likely will to be without Broad for this game, Zak Chappell being his most probable replacement should that be the case.

See comment below that says the talisman Stuart Broad is playing for Notts in this round - excellent news!

For those looking forward to attending this game in the flesh, the club have today posted reminders of the "Code of Conduct". That'll temper the excitement, well done!

Designed to Spoil Your Fun Code of Conduct

• Observe social distancing at all times and avoid close contact with others not in your household or support bubble
• Arrive from 10am and use the gate specified on your ticket to access the ground
• Be aware that we are operating a cashless payment system at our food and drink outlets and that you will need your smartphone, debit card or credit card if you wish to make a purchase
• Capacities within toilet locations are reduced in line with government guidance, so you may have to queue during peak times such as the lunch and tea breaks
• Please remain in your designated seat as much as possible and limit your movement around the ground
• If you do need to leave your seat, put on your face covering, avoid close contact with others and wait for gangways to become clear before moving
• Maintain good hand hygiene through regular washing and avoid touching your face wherever possible
• Observe respiratory etiquette by covering your mouth as you cough or sneeze
• If you have secured tickets on behalf of other spectators in your household or support bubble, please ensure that they too have read these guidelines

Do they not realise that life has carried-on outside their cocoon, pubs now accept punters indoors and people have been buying stuff for the past 15 months.

Regular hand washing and limited toilet facilities, on the face of might be a self-created problem but we've all managed so far... personally I know almost as many people with eczema on their hands caused through excessive hand washing, as people who have had this virus. More so since the turn of the year.

Summary of differences

In comparison to your previous visits to our historic home, a great deal will have changed. Some of the most profound differences are captured in short form below, but please do read on and check out both the FAQs and our code of conduct so you’re aware of the full details.

• Entry and departure via a nominated gate
• Allocated seating within household or support bubbles
• The requirement for social distancing throughout
• Limited refreshments together with an invitation to bring your own
• No facility for cash sales with all outlets operating contactless payments 
• Restricted capacity within toilet facilities
• The Pavilion and all of its seating restricted to use by players, support staff and match officials only
• More barriers, additional signage and restricted movement around the ground
• Ticket Office, library and Radcliffe Road reception closed