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THE COOL HEAD OF DUCKETT SEES OUTLAWS TO WIN
Notts must be ruing dismal defeats and giving points away as qualification is only a decimal away in the end
A classy 62 not out (off 44 balls, 7x4, 1x6) from Ben Duckett saw Notts to a 5-wicket victory with 8 balls to spare at New Road this afternoon after the home team were restricted to 159 for 8 on a slow pitch, where at times it was difficult to time the ball.
It was announced in the morning that Leicestershire had been deducted 2 points in the standings after another disciplinary breach in Friday's match against Northants, the Foxes on a suspended points deduction. It meant that they were eliminated from the competition, despite Yorkshire losing at Grace Road by 60 runs , they qualified for the quarter finals by a superior net run rate ahead of Notts (5th place) with both teams finishing on 15 points. If Notts would have scored one more run at Edgbaston, where they lost by a single run, they would have had a place in the last eight instead of the Tykes. Fine margins!
With Christian nursing a broken finger, Evison making his first T20 appearance came into an otherwise unchanged line up. Replacement skipper Mullaney won the toss and inserted Worcestershire. After a showery morning the afternoon was pleasant featured intermittent sunshine with New Road three quarters full.
Harrison opened up from the Diglis End and went for three singles. Patel conceded 5 off the 2nd over. Libby (6) edged Ball and Moores took the catch wide to his right, 9 for 1, two off the 3rd over including a wide. Munro hit James for four through mid-off and then a six over square leg. The third ball went for a straight four, 17 off the 4th over. Munro hit Mullaney for a six over mid-wicket, 11 off the 5th over. D'Oliveira (5) was caught by Mullaney at mid-on off Ball, 40 for 2. Munro making room for a legside hit was bowled by Ball for 27, 41 for 3 at the end of the powerplay.
Bud o'clock
Budinger bowling off breaks conceded 4 off the 7th over, the part-time bowler turned out to be our best slow bowler on the day. Moeen hit successive boundaries (long leg and straight) off Evison in an over costing 15. Evison having a quiet debut did not bowl again and never batted. Moeen hit Patel for 6 over square leg and then edged him for 4., 13 off the over. James bowled the 10th over, Kashif Ali hitting him for a straight four, 82 for 3 after 10 overs.
Kashif, a leg spinning all-rounder from Luton was a regular in Notts Second team in the latter half of 2019.
Kashif edged a four off Mullaney (2 0 19 0), 8 off 11th over. Moeen Ali was caught by Hales at long on off Budinger for 28, 90 for 4, four off the over. Harrison (2 0 10 0) conceded 7 off the 13th over, Harrison strangely was not given another bowl. Kashif Ali was caught at cover by Mullaney off Budinger, 102 for 5, three off the over. Roderick was bowled by Patel for 2, 107 for 6. Barnard hit the frugal Budinger (4 0 21 2) for 4 through fine leg, Worcestershire 117 for 6 off 16 overs. Patel (4 0 26 1) conceded 5 off the 17th over. Bravo hit Ball for 4 through backward square leg, 10 off the over. Barnard hit James for 6 over long on and then for a straight four. A wide followed, then another straight four, Barnard was caught at wide long by Duckett off James (3 0 43 0) for 38, 148 for 7., 17 off the 19th over. Pennington hit Ball for a straight four. Bravo was caught at deep mid-wicket by Clarke off Ball for 10, 158 for 8. Stanley got a single off the last delivery, 159 for 8 off 20 overs with Pennington 10 not out. Ball (4 0 25 4) ended up Notts leading wicket taker in this year's competition with 18 wickets @12.83 despite missing 6 matches due to a knee injury. It had become apparent as the innings progressed that run scoring was harder when the pace was taken off the ball.
Clarke was caught by Pennington at third man off Stanley (Diglis End) off the second ball of the innings, 0 for 1. Budinger hit Stanley for 4 and then the following delivery was a legside six, the last ball was a 4 through extra cover, 15 off the over. Budinger hit Pennington for 4 through long leg, 7 off the second over. Budinger thrashed Stanley for 4 through extra cover. Budinger hit Stanley straight down Munro's throat at deep mid-wicket for 24 off 12 balls, 27 for 2 off 3 overs. Budinger had made more than a useful contribution to the victory. Hales (14) was dropped on the mid-wicket ropes off Pennington , the fielder Munro throwing it for 6, the next ball was hit for 6 over square leg, Hales though was dismissed next ball chasing a wide delivery from Pennington and edging to Roderick for a 6-ball 14, 38 for 3. Notts 43 for 3 off 4 overs. Duckett hit Stanley (3 0 30 2) for an off side four and four balls later he hit a boundary through wide third man, 10 off the over. Mullaney was struggling to time the ball off Pennington (3 0 27 1) with three successive dot balls followed by a mistimed four through third man, Notts 61 for 3 after 6 overs.
Moeen conceded 5 off the 7th over. Mullaney was leg before to a slow full toss from Bravo for a 14-ball 10, 68 for 4. Duckett hit Bravo through the covers for four and then a boundary through backward point, 80 for 4 off 8 overs. Moeen went for 4 off the 9th over. Barnard went for 7 off his only over, Notts 91 for 4 off 10 overs and well on course
Moeen conceded 4 off the 11th over. D'Oliveira was hit for consecutive fours through mid-wicket by Duckett, 11 off the 12th over. Brown conceded 5 off the 13th over. Bravo went for 4 plus a leg bye in the following over. James (18) was caught at long on by Barnard following a parry from Libby off D'Oliveira (2 0 16 1), 120 for 5, 5 off the 15th over. Notts needed 39 off the last 5 overs.
Moores hit Moeen (4 0 21 0) for 4 through wide third man, eight off the over. Moores hit Bravo full toss for 4 through the covers, seven off the 17th over. Duckett got to his 50 off 39 balls with a single from Brown. Duckett hit Brown 6 over backward square leg to relieve the pressure. Brown (2 0 21 0) bowled a bouncer which was called a no ball. Duckett scooped the next ball for 4 over long leg, 16 off the over. Moores hit Bravo (3.4 0 38 1) for a straight four and three balls later a six over long off into the Diglis End saw home by 5 wickets and 8 balls to spare. Moores finishing on 26 off 15 deliveries. Duckett though was undoubted star with the bat, finishing the competition as Notts leading run scorer with 396 runs @36.00 and proving that deft placement can be just as effective as brute force scoring his runs at 160.32 per 100 balls. MAG
Kashif edged a four off Mullaney (2 0 19 0), 8 off 11th over. Moeen Ali was caught by Hales at long on off Budinger for 28, 90 for 4, four off the over. Harrison (2 0 10 0) conceded 7 off the 13th over, Harrison strangely was not given another bowl. Kashif Ali was caught at cover by Mullaney off Budinger, 102 for 5, three off the over. Roderick was bowled by Patel for 2, 107 for 6. Barnard hit the frugal Budinger (4 0 21 2) for 4 through fine leg, Worcestershire 117 for 6 off 16 overs. Patel (4 0 26 1) conceded 5 off the 17th over. Bravo hit Ball for 4 through backward square leg, 10 off the over. Barnard hit James for 6 over long on and then for a straight four. A wide followed, then another straight four, Barnard was caught at wide long by Duckett off James (3 0 43 0) for 38, 148 for 7., 17 off the 19th over. Pennington hit Ball for a straight four. Bravo was caught at deep mid-wicket by Clarke off Ball for 10, 158 for 8. Stanley got a single off the last delivery, 159 for 8 off 20 overs with Pennington 10 not out. Ball (4 0 25 4) ended up Notts leading wicket taker in this year's competition with 18 wickets @12.83 despite missing 6 matches due to a knee injury. It had become apparent as the innings progressed that run scoring was harder when the pace was taken off the ball.
Clarke was caught by Pennington at third man off Stanley (Diglis End) off the second ball of the innings, 0 for 1. Budinger hit Stanley for 4 and then the following delivery was a legside six, the last ball was a 4 through extra cover, 15 off the over. Budinger hit Pennington for 4 through long leg, 7 off the second over. Budinger thrashed Stanley for 4 through extra cover. Budinger hit Stanley straight down Munro's throat at deep mid-wicket for 24 off 12 balls, 27 for 2 off 3 overs. Budinger had made more than a useful contribution to the victory. Hales (14) was dropped on the mid-wicket ropes off Pennington , the fielder Munro throwing it for 6, the next ball was hit for 6 over square leg, Hales though was dismissed next ball chasing a wide delivery from Pennington and edging to Roderick for a 6-ball 14, 38 for 3. Notts 43 for 3 off 4 overs. Duckett hit Stanley (3 0 30 2) for an off side four and four balls later he hit a boundary through wide third man, 10 off the over. Mullaney was struggling to time the ball off Pennington (3 0 27 1) with three successive dot balls followed by a mistimed four through third man, Notts 61 for 3 after 6 overs.
Moeen conceded 5 off the 7th over. Mullaney was leg before to a slow full toss from Bravo for a 14-ball 10, 68 for 4. Duckett hit Bravo through the covers for four and then a boundary through backward point, 80 for 4 off 8 overs. Moeen went for 4 off the 9th over. Barnard went for 7 off his only over, Notts 91 for 4 off 10 overs and well on course
Moeen conceded 4 off the 11th over. D'Oliveira was hit for consecutive fours through mid-wicket by Duckett, 11 off the 12th over. Brown conceded 5 off the 13th over. Bravo went for 4 plus a leg bye in the following over. James (18) was caught at long on by Barnard following a parry from Libby off D'Oliveira (2 0 16 1), 120 for 5, 5 off the 15th over. Notts needed 39 off the last 5 overs.
Moores hit Moeen (4 0 21 0) for 4 through wide third man, eight off the over. Moores hit Bravo full toss for 4 through the covers, seven off the 17th over. Duckett got to his 50 off 39 balls with a single from Brown. Duckett hit Brown 6 over backward square leg to relieve the pressure. Brown (2 0 21 0) bowled a bouncer which was called a no ball. Duckett scooped the next ball for 4 over long leg, 16 off the over. Moores hit Bravo (3.4 0 38 1) for a straight four and three balls later a six over long off into the Diglis End saw home by 5 wickets and 8 balls to spare. Moores finishing on 26 off 15 deliveries. Duckett though was undoubted star with the bat, finishing the competition as Notts leading run scorer with 396 runs @36.00 and proving that deft placement can be just as effective as brute force scoring his runs at 160.32 per 100 balls. MAG
It appears that Dan Christian has had his fill of singing swans and isn't included in the squad traveling to New Road..
Matt Carter and Luke Fletcher are also missing...
Secret Squirrel must be enjoying himself at the moment, picking squad numbers like he'd pick his lottery numbers...
We asked for changes several weeks ago, when it mattered, but we've sure got change with this squad:
Alex Hales
Joe Clarke
Ben Duckett
Joey Evison
Sol Budinger
Lyndon James
Steven Mullaney C
Tom Moores
Samit Patel
Calvin Harrison
Jake Ball
Dan Christian was given a warm ,appropriate and deserved farewell at Trent Bridge the other night.
ReplyDeleteIf your sources are right ( and they usually are) there’s not point traipsing to new road when we can’t qualify and the party’s over.
List of names is interesting, as always only 11 can play, who drops out? Foxy
Incomprehensible an average team like Derbyshire have already qualified and the Foxes have their chance today also.
ReplyDeleteNo one can deny our brilliant record over the last 5 years, in particular, but it tells you a lot about Cautious Pete and his unwillingness to adapt and move the squad forward with a view to how t20 is evolving
Guess it’s pretty easy to ring the changes when it doesn’t matter ?
Absolutely correct. Peter Moores is renowned for his coaching abilities, but as a manager and team picker he possesses the same mindset as Mr Newell. I heard him some time ago on a radio forum, where by he expressed a view that a player only attains a level of consistency at around 22 to 23 years of age. In other words he doesn't consider selecting a player on a regular basis until they reach that age, as they can't be trusted . The view from the Somerset coach, was that age was irrelevant with regard to selection.. The only exception to his selection policy has been a player called Tom Moores, who in my opinion, isn't as good a keeper or batsman as Schadendorf.
DeleteA coach will always have a different opinion on a particular player's ability, but changes to the T20 team should have been made long before the final game in the group, when the writing was already on the wall.
DCCC are definitely NOT average in the T20 this year. We have beaten every team in the division (apart from yourselves) at least once. Sods Law also saw us only play the whipping boys (Durham and Worcestershire) once each.
DeleteWouldn't want to burst your Bublé Simon.
DeleteLeics may go through, Derbys already there.
ReplyDeleteHopefully that will spur us to pick a younger side next year.
Despite, winning ,
fielding poor Friday, with exceptions of Harrison, Budinger and Moores. Cost us 20 to 30 runs, usually enough to lose a match.
Leicester as you now know Rich have been found to have been naughty boys and won't play in in the quarter finals.
DeleteSpirit of cricket and all that.
DeleteThat’ll learn um . Foxy
My question regarding Tom Moores is would he be an automatic pick in any other T20 squad, as a wicket keeper or a batsman sorry batter.
ReplyDeleteDon’t think he’d be an automatic pick for the Dog & Duck 3rd Eleven
DeleteI didn't know the Dog and Duck could muster a 3rd XI these days. Tom Moores is a T20 kind of player, lots of power. He just needs to improve to make it into the top 6 of the order. He's perhaps the third or fourth best keeper in the Notts squad and his selection in that role is only because of one reason.
DeleteMoores, Patel, for two surely won't get a look in next season at T20. Patel will prob retire anyway.
ReplyDeleteWas that Mick Newell track-suited today in the absence again of several members of the coaching staff?
ReplyDeleteI think there is now a positive case for making Duckett captain in all formats for Notts as he is now showing a level of consistency and maturity necessary to carry out these duties.
ReplyDeleteAs for T20 in 2023, along with Christian's departure, it should also be an apt time for Samit and Steven Mullaney to hang up their respective boots .
I consider Evison ahead of James is better equipped for the shorter format of the game, and a place should be found for Schadendorf certainly as a batsman, if not wicket keeper as well.
One thing Peter Moores should take on board, if he wasn't already aware, is that T20 is a young man's game, especially when it comes to fielding and athleticism.
Also as Paul Johnson rightly pointed out on commentary, the other evening, if you select a new player, then give him the opportunity within the match to perform. It took the final match for Budinger to bat up top, and Evison should have come in at 4 or 5 today, his contribution being one solitary over in the game.It makes little sense to me, I'm afraid.
I agree on making duckett captain for T20 next season
DeleteCompletely agree Mark reg. Lord Budinger and Lyndon James.
DeleteWhen cautious Pete eventually selected them in the team, it then seemed they did everything they possibly could for them not to feature in the game itself, untill they finally accepted qualification was very unlikely. Ironically Leicester almost helped us out in this regard. The same thing was also done with both Sam Wood and Billy Root previously
If the cautious management team don’t think they are t20 players(and that’s hard to believe with Lord Budinger’s game) then pick some other young players instead of them, but don’t reluctantly select then in the team then try and do everything you possibly can for them not to take part in the game itself. What message does that send out ?
Of course, the one notable exception to this policy is the(somehow)first choice wicket keeper that continues to play every game.