OUTLAWS STALLED
An inexcusable Notts collapse, losing nine wickets for 57 runs, under the Trent Bridge lights meant that visitors Hampshire made it three wins out of three in T20 quarter finals last night at Trent Bridge.
Notts won the toss and elected to bowl in front of a crowd of 14,038, larger than any of the quoted attendances for the four previous sub-T20 games played at the venue. There were no great surprises in the eleven, Paterson played for the injured Ball and Slater was rewarded for a fine 50 over competition with his inclusion. However a big mistake was later made, as Slater, presumably selected to add ballast was surprisingly preferred in the number 4 batting position by Tom Moores, who has consistently not fired with the bat throughout the white ball summer and all too predictably failed.
Patel (Radcliffe Road End) bowled the first over and conceded six including an offside boundary for Short. Carter went for four singles in the second over, as did Fletcher in the third over. With the screw tightening D’Arcy Short (9) smashed Paterson straight to Slater at mid wicket, 15 for one. Eighteen year old right-hander Tom Prest hit his second ball to the third man ropes, five off the over. Vince (6) sliced Patel straight to Carter at short third man 19 for two. Weatherley swept Patel for four, the sole scoring shot of the over. Fletcher bowled the 6th over as Hampshire closed the power play on 26 for 2. Notts were in control.
Harrison bowled the seventh over as Prest hit him for a leg side four, seven off the over. Weatherley (6), top edged a sweep shot off Carter straight to Patel at fine leg, 34 for 3, four off the 8th over. McManus was bowled off stump by Harrison for 2, 40 for 4. Dawson fell first ball dabbing the ball straight back to Harrison, 40 for 5 off 9 overs. Notts let Hampshire off the hook slightly as 49 were gathered for the seventh wickets between Prest and James Fuller.
Five came off the 10th over by Patel. Prest hit Harrison to the extra cover ropes, eight off the over. Fuller hit Mullaney for a square leg six, nine off his solitary over. Fuller repeated the shot in the following over bowled by Harrison (4-0-27-2), 71 for 5 off 13 overs. Six came off the 14th over bowled by Carter, including a leg bye. Fuller hit Patel (4-0-25-1) for an off side four, 10 off his final over.
Fuller (30 off 24 balls) was caught at deep mid wicket by Duckett off Carter (4-0-18-2). Hampshire 89 for 6 in the 16th over. Prest hit Paterson for a six over long off. Prest on 42 was dropped at wide long on by Hales, a sitter, and what turned out to be two very precious runs were obtained. But the former Canford School youngster fell next over caught on the square leg ropes by Harrison off Paterson for 44 (off 34 balls), 100 for 7, Prest innings turned out to be the highest of the night, well done to him. 14 off the over including two wides. Fletcher conceded 8 off the 18th over. Paterson (3-0-22-3) had Currie leg before for 3, 115 for 8; three off the 19th over. Wood was caught by Clarke at deep extra cover off Fletcher (4-0-21-1) for 12, 119 for 9. Hampshire closed on 125 for 9 with Crane on 6 and Wheal on 1. The wicket was two paced, and batsmen had trouble consistency timing the ball, all the Notts bowlers had kept Hampshire in check. With the short boundaries and the fast outfield, Notts were left with an easy target which they should have swallowed…..
Wood bowled the first over from the Radcliffe Road End and conceded 8 including a four through extra cover by Hales. Clarke found the point ropes off Dawson and then Hales hit the slow left-armer for six over extra cover, 14 off the over. Clarke hit Wheal for six over backward square leg. Hales then hit Wheal for the four through extra cover, 35 for 0 off 3 overs. Seven came off the 4th over bowled by Currie. Hales (19) fell to spiralling catch by Vince at long off, as he fell to a slow left-armer once more, Dawson the bowler, 42 for 1 Clarke hit Dawson through the covers for four, five off the fifth over. Duckett hit Wood for four through long off, just clearing the fielder. Notts 53 for 1 off 6 overs.
Duckett hit Crane for a four through backward point and then reverse swept him for four. 11 off the 7th over. Notts now needed just 62 runs from the final 13 overs with nine wickets standing, all bets were now off!
The match was to turn dramatically as Notts lost focus. Ben Duckett (16) was run out by a direct him from James Fuller throwing from mid off, 66 for 2. Wood had conceded two off the 8th over. With the small target it was no brainer that Slater should come in at four, but instead the out of form Moores came in. Moores fell leg before to Crane for a 4-ball single, 68 for three, Moores clearly not picking the leg spinner, and his dismissal just added to the Hampshire momentum, it was from this point that Notts were completely overwhelmed.
Wheal conceded three off the 10th over, Notts 71 for 3. Joe Clarke hit Crane for six over mid wicket, 10 off the 11th over, but the prolific Clarke and Patel were now both struggling to time the ball. Accumulation rather than attempted domination was the order of the day. Patel was dropped at short extra cover by Wheal off Currie, an absolute sitter.
Notts batsmen caught Short
Next over, Clarke (42 off 37 balls) skied Dawson to Wood in the covers, 83 for 4. Next ball, Patel was stumped off a Dawson wide for four, 84 for 5. The wide was the only run off the 13th over. The collapse continued as Slater was caught low at point by Weatherley off Wood for 3, 88 for 6 after 14 overs. Three came off Crane's last over, the leg spinner having figures of 4-0-26-1. Harrison lofted Wood for four over extra cover. Harrison fell for 5 caught on the square leg ropes by Short off Currie (4-0-16-2) 96 for 7 off 15.4 overs. The batsmen crossed and Mullaney fell in identikit fashion for 4, 96 for 8. Somebody needed to remind the batsmen, this innings lasted 120 not 100 balls!
Man of the match Liam Dawson (4-0-24-3) had conceded four off the 17th over. Carter hit Wheal for a six over wide long off. Fletcher going for a wild swing was comprehensively bowled for 3, 109 for 9. The match appeared to be over.
Wood (4-0-32-1) bowled the 19th over from the Pavilion End, and after two dot balls Carter clobbered him for six over mid wicket. A two followed and then cue a huge crowd eruption as Carter hit another towering six through cow comer. Only three required now with seven deliveries remaining. Vital instructions were delivered to Carter out in the middle, but a dot ball meant that Paterson was to face the first delivery of the final over delivered by Brad Wheal. Could Paterson repeat his Grantham batting heroics? Three dot balls followed as the tension increased, Paterson fell a 5-ball duck as Wheal (3.4-0-24-2) found the edge and keeper McManus took a regulation catch. Notts 123 all out off 19.4 overs, Carter left stranded on 23. Hampshire had overcome the odds and had won by two runs. Notts quarter-final hoodoo had struck again. The cool head of Dan Christian had been sadly missed.
How much was Notts performance affected by the 38 day break as the circus came to town?; Were the home side complacent?; Should Notts have batted first, knowing that we much stronger setting than chasing a target? Was the slow deck the ideal surface for Notts to prepare for the contest? All these topics will be debated long and hard as Notts lick their wounds. However, dramatic defeats happen in the helter skelter world of T20, it’s the nature of the beast.
Notts’ season, however, will be defined in how they perform in their remaining four championship games starting at Taunton on Monday. Sam Northeast made a disappointing first appearance in Notts colours yesterday falling leg before for a two ball duck to the brisk and bouncy Sam Conners in the less that palatial surroundings of Lady Bay. MAG
Secret Squirrel has a problem! He lost Harry Gurney to retirement through injury (not sustained whilst having his foot stuck in his mouth - I should add) on the eve of this competition. Ordinarily (without Covid in charge) I suspect that vacancy would have been filled with an overseas specialist option but Outlaws managed to muddle through with Jake Ball and Luke Fletcher on death bowling duties, quite successfully. Unfortunately Outlaws have now lost Jake Ball who managed to pull-up lame during the waste of space Hundred competition - do Outlaws get some compensation?
Blast games, after the Bears mauling, took a familiar pattern with Outlaws employing their 3 spinners plus Mullaney, as and when required in addition to Fletch and Bally - the formula worked! SS in his 14 man squad has named Peter Trego, Dane Paterson and Brett Hutton as a replacement for Ball - none of them has Ball's zip. Sol Budinger has been omitted with James or Slater in his place(?).
Secret Squirrel's XIV:
Alex Hales
Joe Clarke
Ben Duckett
Steven Mullaney
Ben Slater
Samit Patel
Tom Moores
Lyndon James
Calvin Harrison
Brett Hutton
Luke Fletcher
Matt Carter
Peter Trego
Dane Paterson
Joe Clarke
Ben Duckett
Steven Mullaney
Ben Slater
Samit Patel
Tom Moores
Lyndon James
Calvin Harrison
Brett Hutton
Luke Fletcher
Matt Carter
Peter Trego
Dane Paterson
Lyndon James, Brett Hutton and Peter Trego are all playing in the current SEC match at Lady Bay - so is that a indicator to who the three to miss out will be?
latest:
Another twist saw Matt Montgomery replace Peter Trego as captain in the Lady Bay game this morning whilst Sam Northeast replaced Trego in the eleven.
Would be surprised if picked Slater in a full strength T20 side?
ReplyDeleteBaz(Alex Hales) appeared down at the Bay towards the end. Lord Budinger informed us he was not playing tomorrow as hinted Benny Slats would come in to the side. What a prospect the fast bowler James Hayes looks, real pace surely will only get better ? Interesting Fateh Singh told us he had to sign a short term 3 week contract in order he could play in the RLODC this season. Without wanting to temp fate, I don't think the Hawks are quite the same side that have done us twice before in quarter finals, once with South African Neil McKenzie pulling the strings then latterly James Vince slaying us to all parts. A little ironic but let's hope Darcy comes up Short. Also a bit concerned about pitch, assuming it's yet another worn surface will it come down to a battle bewtween Crane and Dawson and Carter, Samit and Calvin ? Personally hoping it's a Steve Birks road and we bat them out of the game if Halo, Ducky and Clarke can fire we will surely be in the box seat.
ReplyDeleteBudinger hasn't quite fired in T20 first team yet, and is probably too much of an aggressive batsman to have in a big game alongside Hales and Clarke. Trego hasn't fired consistently. Team looks better with Duckett at 4 than 3, so if Slater is a way of gaining some balance, I am all for it. Though I don't think he's a natural T20 player. If we get a great start, he may drop down the order?
ReplyDeleteTrego in the ODC was a walking wicket, averaged 11.00 @ 77.87. His bowling under fire against Bears in the Blast was worse than you'd expect from a novice. He would represent a risk if he was picked - experienced or not.
DeleteFitting that Notts Outlaws should win today :
ReplyDeleteAs it is the first ever
Nottinghamshire Day
Yes Raddy Roadster, playing either Trego or Lord Budinger is/ would have been a huge risk. I hope it's Benny Slater he may be out first ball it T20 after all but he played well against the Leics Foxes I think it was when we were hampered by Covid suspensions. I think Jake Ball's death bowling will be a huge loss but Taffy Luke didn't let himself down playing for the Fire so hopefully we will have enough still. Most t20 games are still decided by pace off so that's our strong department with 4 bowling options assuming he plays the 3 spinners together
ReplyDeleteOnly 2 off final over needed for another 'winning tie' like last year's QF and didn't manage it. Not the first bad collapse we've had - thought we were well on top
ReplyDeleteNot only has the competition lost momentum, Notts lost their own cohesive unit look. Lessons learnt in earlier games, forgotten. Too much playing to the cameras, too much unnecessarily shying at the stumps. Not only was there a 38 day break in the Blast, but a team was broken-up and sent in different directions for those days. Hampshire fought well but you can't help feeling that the enforced hiatus in competitive cricket didn't help Notts as a team either.
ReplyDeleteSure many mistakes, but so close !
ReplyDeleteAs Napoleon said
"It is a short step from the sublime to the ridiculous."
I thought it was going to be another 'winning tie'. 3 off 7 balls ! How could we not do that. And 4 an over off 13 overs with 9 wickets in hand. We are a great side, but are prone to terrible collapses. The concern moving forward is the Worcs collapse in 2019 then this one. They need surely to work out what is wrong. Is it a psychological issue?
ReplyDeleteYes, I don't thin the gap between the group games and this did us any favours(we know who to thank for that) but it also is difficult to argue against the fact that Notts lose more than fair share of big pressure games. The list is long and there are some real shockers in there. Personally I don't think that used surface did us any favours(I understand that Notts were happy with it and a par score was around 150/160). But the way Darcy Short and James Vince struggled in the power play told its own story. Even with Calvin Harrison our strength surely has to be in the batting group and they need a decent deck with the ball coming on which it clearly wasn't. The 3 spinners have done a very decent job but they are not a Rashid Khan and the way Liam Dawson bowled told you how difficult this pitch was after the 6 power play overs. We should, however, still have closed the game out I think we would all agree with that. I used to think in the 80s Essex were our bogey side, then the Wurzels now surely its Rod Bransgrove's mob from the Ageas ? It's particularly disappointing as it is not a strong Hampshire outfit make even weaker by Colin de Mullet returning home to New Zealand. But it's t20 and every so often you throw in a poor performance. Just such a pity it was in a home qtr final with 14,000 cheering the boys on.
ReplyDeleteI'M still absolutely gutted by last night nearly 24 hours on.
ReplyDeleteMe too, they threw it away, batting like headless chickens.
Deleteand me. Totally furious. Brainless and embarrassing. And you are absolutely right about the batting order. In fairness to us we all wailed in distress when we ddn't see Slater at 4 at the time. A couple of Hundred anecdotes to make of what you will: one gent whose rolling eyes I caught at the end said "just like they did in the other one last week". And heard in the crowd as Darcy Short was seen batting for Hampshire "is he playing for them now?"
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely priceless - needed a laugh after last night. Yes, it must have been very confusing for them indeed. I'm reasonably phlegmatic about it on the whole. I used to be devastated when we lost the home quarter final year upon year, but as we have had these disaster batting collapses before nothing really surprises me now with Notts. I probably sound like a broken record, but I still think our best option is always to play on the best deck we have available and bat first. If the batting fires the oppo are under pressure immediately in a pressure run chase. I know there's the argument about batting 2nd especially under the lights, it's just the way I look at it. Pressure as we know is a big man in the dressing room and teams bat differently as we found to our cost yet again.
ReplyDeleteSpot on Stonewall . Bat first on the best pitch we can prepare . Pressure is on the oppo then whichji think is Notts strength in the blast . Not ecstatic about the pitch but i think we all know it was always going to be a used un . Still stunned though. Run a ball should have been a comfortable chase s
DeleteGreat points for sure, but are we over reacting a little ?
ReplyDeleteWe have a fantastic record in white ball cricket in terms of winning trophies and getting to latter stages, even when we don't.
No team wins every time.
There have been other defeats in the past that were both heartbreaking and valiant, Taunton in 1984 and lords in 1985. This was not akin to those.however, Notts should never of lost this one, which you can’t say because they did
ReplyDeleteCredit to Hampshire, they hung in the game for 30 overs, being a costal county,when the tide turned they sailed in on it. Aided I think by some sloppy batting.
This matters to most, in fact all of us on here because it’s Nottinghamshire, not some competition with a daft concocted name, see who turns up and pick sides in the playground manner with 5 ball overs. Hampshire are indeed a bogey team at the moment, if such a thing exists, they are it
Foxy, was the 1984 Taunton the match with Sir Richard Hadlee and the 'disputed' 6 ? Yes, the 1985 against Essex and Derek Randall almost heroically winning the game for us with all those boundaries. Agonising indeed but at least we gained revenge with the Eddie Hemings game
ReplyDeleteYes to all 3 memories.dear old mike bore nearly winning the championship at Taunton.the incomparable derek, usually the first name to crop up when I speak to opposition fans,the Eddie 4 seemed to take age to get to the boundary , all remembered decades now down the line.
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