Middlesex LV= County Championship Div 2 at Trent Bridge Drawn 15 points

 

Day 4

THE WICKET, THE ONLY WINNER

Dead pitch, dead boring draw!

As expected, this match at Trent Bridge ended in a draw today, Notts taking 15 points from the match and they now lead the table by 11 points over Middlesex. Their next opponents Glamorgan lie third.

Fletcher (Radcliffe Road End) and Paterson opened the bowling in what began as cloudy conditions. Fletcher was given four overs before making way for Patterson-White who was finally given a bowl from the Radcliffe Road End. Paterson who beat the bat a few times was given 6 overs before being replaced by Pattinson, but no wicket was forthcoming. It was becoming rapidly apparent the game was heading nowhere. The 100 partnership between Stoneman and Robson came up via a leg bye by Stoneman off Pattinson in the 40th over. Sam Robson got to his 50 off 125 balls with a leg side four off Pattinson. The following over (the 43rd) saw Mullaney have his first bowl of the contest, this was so Patterson-White could switch ends. Mullaney bowled 3 overs, then with lunch approaching Slater was given a bowl. Middlesex 122 for 0 off 51 overs at the interval with Robson on 55 and Stoneman on 45.

The play became utterly futile after lunch as the sun broke through. Stoneman got to his 50 off 174 balls with a four through mid-wicket off Slater. The 150 partnership came up in the 61st over. In the 64th over Hameed came on bowling medium pace off three paces with Moores standing back! Middlesex took the lead in the 75th over. A cover drive for 4 by Robson off Hameed brought up his 100 off 243 balls. Notts took the new ball with Middlesex on 197 for 0 after 80 overs with Duckett and Clarke sharing it! In his second over, Duckett had Robson (108) caught down the leg side by the diving Moores, 201 for 1 in the 83rd over. Duckett's second first-class victim having previously dismissed Sam Northeast playing for Northants v Kent at Beckenham in 2017. Middlesex 223 for 1 off 88 overs with Stoneman on 86 and Eskinazi on 4 at tea.

Duckett and Clarke continued for a further 6 overs after tea, until Hameed and Slater returned for the 94th and 95th overs respectively. Stoneman reached what was a now a completely meaningless ton off 283 balls with a two off Slater. James came on for the 99th over, bowling a mixture of spin and medium pace with Clarke now behind the stumps. Moores bowled the 100th and final over as for only the second time in Notts history all 11 players had bowled in an innings, the previous time being in 1905 versus Lancashire at TB. Hopefully it will at least another 117 years before it happens again. Glamorgan performed the feat against Notts at TB in 1951 and are the most recent team to bowl all 11 v Surrey at the Oval last season. Middlesex declared their innings on 261 for 1 with Stoneman on 109 and Eskinazi on 19. Duckett with career best figures of 1 for 15!

Notts had done well to actual enforce the follow on given the dead surface, full credit to the bowlers, but county cricket deserves better surfaces than the one used for this fixture, they are no good to anyone! Pity the poor pupils of Abbey Road Primary School in West Bridgford who attended today sitting in the William Clarke Stand, they have all been probably put off the game for life. MAG

All instances of all eleven bowling in an innings click here

Day 3

MIDDLESEX WIN DAY OF STUBBORN RESISTANCE

but visitors belatedly made to follow-on on flat deck

This match seems destined for a draw with Middlesex standing on 63 for 0 in their second innings, still 112 behind Notts’ mammoth 551 for 8 declared. Notts had to work hard to take the remaining 6 first innings wickets on a slow flat deck with the ball not swinging in the stiff south westerly wind. Patterson-White toiled most of the day from the Pavilion End but did not take a wicket today. James Pattinson’s (4-65) extra pace was Notts main weapon and he was supported by Dane Paterson who took 3-97 from 30 overs.

Notts got an early success; off the seventh delivery of the morning night watchman Helm was plumb leg before to Pattinson (Pavilion End) for a duck, 106 for 5. But it would be a further 39 overs before they struck again. Pattinson had Holden in some trouble but after 5 over bursts he and Fletcher were replaced by Paterson and Patterson-White respectively. In the 58th over, Simpson hit Patterson-White for a six over mid-wicket. Lyndon James came on from the Radcliffe Road End for the 59th over and Holden got to his 50 with successive fours through backward point in an over which cost 17 including 4 byes, James bowled one further over, but did not bowl again. Pattinson returned for the 63rd over, switching to the Radcliffe Road End with a bye seeing Middlesex to their first batting point. Moores having a very sloppy day behind the stumps conceding a total of 19 byes on a blameless pitch. A leg side boundary by Simpson off Pattinson took him to 50 off 84 balls and also brought up the 100 partnership between Holden and himself. Middlesex got to lunch on 217 for 5 off 68 overs with Holden on 67 and Simpson on 58; very much their morning.

Paterson and Patterson-White were bowling in tandem after lunch but carried no threat. In desperation Mullaney turned to Slater's to bowl the 79th over and he made the crucial breakthrough having Holden caught at slip by Mullaney off a delivery that rose and spat, 248 for 6. Holden was crestfallen his 86 having took 221 balls (11x4), the sixth wicket partnership was worth 142 runs. A wicket maiden for Slater. He was given a second over then Notts took the new ball (Fletcher and Pattinson) with Middlesex 252 for 6 off 82 overs. Simpson and Hollman were untroubled against the hard new ball. Patterson-White was brought back for the 88th over and Paterson for the 93rd over. The Middlesex 300 came up in the 94th over. Pattinson replaced Paterson for the 99th over and he finally made the breakthrough having Simpson caught at first slip by Clarke for 92 (off 184 balls, 13x4, 1x6). Tea was immediately taken with Middlesex on 321 for 7 off 100.4 overs with Hollman on 37. The seventh wicket stand between Simpson and Holden had added 73 in 22 overs.

Successive boundaries off Patterson-White by Hollman saw him to 50 off 74 balls in the 104th over. Paterson returned for Pattinson for the 107th over, Andersson hitting him for three consecutive boundaries in his comeback over. Middlesex obtained their fourth batting point in the 108th over. Hollman (52) top edged a pull shot off Paterson and was caught at deep square leg boundary by James, 360 for 8 in the 109th over. A wicket gifted to Notts. It was last chance saloon to gain the 3rd bowling point so Patterson-White was given a temporary rest but Pattinson failed to make Andersson play, 360 for 8 after 110 overs. Pattinson bowled a further two overs before Patterson-White returned; the slow left-armer finishing with figures of 40-13-101-1. In the 115th over, Roland-Jones was lbw to Paterson for 2, 364 for 9. Pattinson came on for the 118th over and with his second delivery Andersson (36) was the last man out, skying the ball to Mullaney at mid-wicket, the 4th wicket for Pattinson. Middlesex 376 all out off 117.2 overs with Murtagh 1 not out. Notts had bowled much better than Middlesex, although faced very stubborn resistance from Holden, Simpson and Hollman.

With Middlesex 175 runs in arrears and only 116 overs left in the match, Notts had no choice but to enforce the follow on. The remaining 20 overs were easily negotiated by Robson (36 not out) and Stoneman (16 not out). Fletcher (Radcliffe Road End) and Pattinson shared the new ball. Patterson-White came on for the 7th over. After a 6 over spell Fletcher was replaced by Paterson. Slater’s off spin was also given two overs right at the end of the day, Middlesex 63 for 0. Not a day to linger long in the memory. With the wicket completely flat and the south westerly winds remaining tomorrow, logic would suggest a draw as the most likely outcome. MAG

Day 2

AFTER THE RAIN, LYNDON SHINES

taking Notts onto a long push for victory

A superb career best 155 from Lyndon James put Notts in a strong position after a rain hit second day at Trent Bridge. After morning rain washed away the opening session, play commenced at 1330 with 21 overs lost from the days ration. Notts added a further 173 runs in 36.3 overs to declare on a mammoth 551 for 7. This left them with 36 overs to bowl at Middlesex in the evening sunshine and they managed to take the opening three wickets within 10 overs with the new ball, but Stoneman and Holden stood firm adding 69 runs in 23 overs when three overs before stumps were drawn a spinning delivery from Patterson-White got through Stoneman’s defences as Middlesex closed on precarious 106 for 4.

When played started a total of 75 overs were to be bowled. With the fifth delivery of the day, Mullaney shouldering arms lost off stump to a delivery Murtagh which jagged back in for 79, 381 for 5. James, ten short of his second Notts 100, made untroubled progress to his landmark which he achieved in 169 balls with an extra cover boundary off Murtagh in the 101st over. Moores hit successive offside boundaries off Murtagh. Notts got to maximum batting points in the 102nd over. Moores fell for 17 edging Murtagh to Simpson, 407 for 6 in the 105th over. Notts were 420 for 6 off 110 overs. James was in fine touch hitting strokes all round the wicket with fellow Notts Academy graduate Patterson-White as his partner. The Notts 450 came up in the 117th over. Patterson-White rode his luck, twice edging Helm between Simpson and a first slip off successive deliveries. A six over mid-wicket by James off Hollman saw him to 150 off 244 balls in the 123rd over. James skied Hollman to Helm at backward point to depart for a 249 ball 155 (19x4, 1x6), 498 for 7 after 125 overs. The 7th wicket partnership was worth 91 in 20 overs. The Notts 500 came up in the 126th over via a two for Pattinson off Murtagh. Notts got to tea on 516 for 7 off 130 overs with Patterson-White on 44 and Pattinson on 8.

With the declaration imminent Patterson-White and Pattinson thrashed 35 in 2.3 overs after tea before the Notts declaration arrived following Patterson-White dismissal. 

Pattinson hit Hoffman for 6 over long on in an over that cost 18 runs. A four for Patterson-White off Helm got him to 50 off 72 balls. In the third over tea, Pattinson hoisted Hollman for 6 over square leg, he then got a single. Next ball, Patterson-White was caught at long off by Stoneman off Hollman for 50 (6x4). Notts immediately declared on 551-8 off 132.3 overs with Pattinson on 35 not out (off 27 balls, 4x4, 2x6). Hollman despite bowling too many loose deliveries picked up 4-122, but he was indicative of Middlesex bowling performance which relied far too much on the opening pair Murtagh and Roland-Jones.

Fletcher (Radcliffe Road End) and Pattinson opened the bowling. In the 4th over, Robson was lbw to Pattinson for 5, 15 for 1. Eskinazi played on to his leg stump in Fletcher s 4th over, 28 for 2. Dane Paterson came on for the 8th over and in his second over he had Davies lbw for a duck, 37 for 3 in the 10th over. Pattinson replaced Fletcher at the Radcliffe Road End in the 13th over. After a three over spell, Pattinson made way for Lyndon James and for the following over (20th) Patterson-White came on from the Pavilion End. Mark Stoneman reached his 50 off 74 balls with a cover driven four off James. Paterson returned for the 29th over. Middlesex reached their 100 in the 32nd over. Crucially in the 34th over, Stoneman was bowled by fine delivery from Patterson-White for 67 (102 balls, 10x4), 106 for 4. Nightwatchman Helm (0 not out) joined Holden (24 not out) and they held firm as the final 14 balls were safely negotiated as Middlesex closed with a massive deficit of 445 runs. An extended 104 over day is on the menu tomorrow. With the pitch holding few demons, Patterson-White will be expected to have a long bowl tomorrow. MAG

Day 1

NOTTS ON TOP ON DAY ONE OF TABLE-TOPPING TUSSLE

Notts had a fine first day after winning the toss and electing to bat closing on 378 for 4 on a sunny but blustery day at Trent Bridge against second-placed Middlesex.

Fletcher returned to the eleven that defeated Leicestershire a fortnight ago and out went the unlucky Hutton. The green tinged pitch did not really help the bowlers and with a strong wind blowing from the west, the Middlesex bowlers after a testing new ball spell first thing, Roland-Jones apart, struggled all day.

Murtagh (Radcliffe Road) and Roland-Jones opened the bowling. In the 4th over Slater (9) edged the impressive Roland-Jones to Simpson behind the wicket, 9 for 1. The opening bowling pair kept a tight rein on the run rate with Notts standing at 25 for 1 after 12 overs. But the floodgates opened as Andersson replaced Murtagh and conceded nine off his first over. The following over from the Pavilion End was bowled by Tom Helm and also went for nine. The 15th over bowled by Andersson went for 16 including 3 fours for Hameed. Not to be out done, Duckett hit the first three balls of the following over from Helm to the boundary ropes. The run spree ended as Duckett (37, 7x4) edged Helm to Simpson who took the catch in front to first slip, 83 for 2 in the 18th over. The second wicket had added 74 in 13.3 overs. With runs coming quickly, Murtagh brought himself back at the Radcliffe Road End with Notts 98 for 2 off 22 overs but his third delivery was hit to the mid-wicket ropes by Clarke to bring up the Notts 100. Roland-Jones returned and leg spinner Hollman came from the Radcliffe Road End for an over before lunch. Notts at the break were 120 for 2 after 28 overs with Hameed on 42 and Blake on 23.

Murtagh and Roland-Jones returned to bowl after lunch and put a brake on the run scoring. Hameed got to his 50 off 89 balls with a four through third man off Murtagh. Hameed and Clarke were batting very solidly in the afternoon sunshine as Helm and Andersson returned. Clarke (47) pulled Hollman to a mid-wicket boundary but was dismissed next ball going for a cut shot as Sam Robson snaffled a superb instinctive catch at slip diving to his left off the leg spinner, 188 for 3 off 47 overs, the third wicket had raised 105 runs in 29 overs. The Notts 200 came up via a four through the covers by James off Helm in the 50th over. Hameed got to a quite excellent 100 in 149 balls with a glorious cover driven four along the floor in the 54th over, Helm the bowler. His second ton against Middlesex this season. It came as a big surprise when Hameed had a rush of blood and playing across the line to Hollman, he was bowled for 101 (154 balls, 14x4), 227 for 4 in the 55th over. Mullaney was dropped on 1 by substitute Josh de Caries, a sharp chance, at mid-wicket off Tim Murtagh. Stoneman bowled the last over before tea with his occasional off spin, Notts reaching their second batting point in the process. Notts 256 for 4 at the second interval off 64 overs with James on 30 and Mullaney on 19.



James and Mullaney carried on the good work adding a further 122 runs unbroken in the 32 over evening session. The all-spin attack of Hollman and Stoneman was retained after tea, but they carried little menace. In the 74th over, Andersson was recalled from the Pavilion End with Notts reaching 300 via a two for Mullaney, later in the same over a pulled four by James through mid-wicket off a short ball saw him to 50 off 81 balls. A four through long on off Hollman saw Mullaney to his 50 off 77 balls. Sam Robson with 8 first-class wickets to his name bowled the 80th over with a single for Mullaney bringing up the 100 partnership off 154 balls for the 5th wicket with James. The new ball was immediately taken by Murtagh and Roland-Jones with Notts 327 for 4 with Roland-Jones again looking the best Middlesex bowler but the 5th wicket pair safely negotiated it in the 16 overs left in the day. A legside four by James off the returning Helm brought the Notts 350 in the 89th over. James was dropped by Robson at slip on 78, Roland-Jones the unlucky bowler. The 150 partnership was achieved in 243 balls with Notts getting to stumps on 378 for 4 off 96 overs with James on 90 (off 157 balls, 10x4) and Mullaney on 79 (122 balls, 7x4). Roland-Jones (22-6-38-1) was in a class of his own as the support seamers Helm (16-0-101-1) and Andersson (12-0-75-0) had poor days. James and Mullaney have so far added 151 runs in 41.4 overs in what was a wonderful first day for the Green and Golds. MAG

Squad for the resumption of the County Championship holds no surprises:

Haseeb Hameed
Ben Slater
Ben Duckett
Joe Clarke

Lyndon James

Steven Mullaney C

Tom Moores X

Liam Patterson-White

James Pattinson

Luke Fletcher

Brett Hutton

Dane Paterson

Sol Budinger