Day 4
A TURN ROUND IN FORTUNES
AS SUPERB CLARKE AND HUTTON GET NOTTS OFF THE HOOK, AND IT'S ULTIMATELY KENT THAT HAVE TO DIG-IN FOR A DRAW
A magnificent 8th wicket stand of 148 in 36 overs between Joe Clarke (141 not out off 277 balls, 21 x 4 , 1 x 6) and Brett Hutton (84 off 130 balls, 11 x 4) was the cornerstone for Notts salvaging an unexpected draw at the St Lawrence Ground today.
Early morning showers meant the start was delayed. Play commenced at 1119 with 13 overs lost. Chahal (Nackington Road End) and Nijjar bowled initially. The 100 partnership between Clarke and James came up in 243 balls. The two spinners bowled six overs in 16 minutes. The new ball was taken at 1135 with Notts 180 for 5 off 80 overs. It only took Hogan four deliveries to remove James (39) caught at first slip by Leaning, 180 for 6. Harrison departed first ball palpably lbw to the Australian. The game looked as good as over with just Hutton and the two rabbits Paterson and Fernando to come. How wrong we all were.
Hutton pushed the hat trick ball into the covers to make the scores level. Hutton hit Gilchrist for successive fours in the 84th over. Hutton was going for his shots taking advantage of Kent's attacking fields. The Notts 200 was achieved via a cover driven boundary by Hutton off Hogan in the 85th over. In the following over Hutton found the cover ropes off consecutive Gilchrist deliveries. An inside edged boundary by Hutton off Gilchrist brought up the 50 partnership in 52 balls of which Hutton had contributed 45. Evison replaced Hogan from the Nackington Road End for the 91st over and for the following over Nijjar returned from the Pavilion End but Clarke and Hutton stood firm. Notts 235 for 7 off 92 overs at lunch with Clarke on 70 and Hutton on 48.
Immediately after lunch Gilchrist replaced Nijjar from the Pavilion End and with his second delivery Hutton pushed a single to achieve a run a ball 50. The Notts 250 came up in the 96th over with a four for Hutton through backward point. Clarke hit two boundaries off Evison in the 97th over. The over went for 10 so Leaning replaced him with Hogan. An on driven boundary by Clarke off Hogan saw his to his ton off 222 balls in the 101st over. The 100 partnership between Clarke and Hutton took 134 balls. The Notts lead went into three figures with Clarke hitting Gilchrist for four through wide third man in the 104th over. Hutton pulled Gilchrist for four, the ball just evading the grasp of Hogan at long leg. In the same over which cost 14, Gilchrist were pulled twice to the square boundary by Clarke. Nijjar replaced Hogan in the 107th over with Notts reaching 300 via a single for Hutton. Chalal came on for the following over with Clarke hitting him for six on the banks at square leg. A pushed two for Hutton off Chalal in the 113th over put Hutton passed his career best score of 74 made versus Durham at Trent Bridge in 2016. The Notts pair at this stage looked immovable. Then Clarke bottom edged an attempted drive from a ball from Nijjar to behind square on the leg side, Hutton charged down the pitch but was sent back with Chalal throwing the ball back to bowler Nijjar with Hutton (84) well short of his ground, 328 for 8 in the 117th over. Kent had achieved the crucial breakthrough.
Clarke hit Niijar for three boundaries in four balls in the 121st over. Gilchrist returned from the Pavilion End for the 132nd over. Notts 348 for 8 off 122 overs with Clarke on 140 and Paterson on 5. The game very much in the balance.
Chalal made his team favourites by picking up the remaining Notts two wickets in the first over after tea. Incredibly the fourth time in the innings where Notts had lost two wickets in the same over. Paterson was caught at second slip by Bell-Drummond for 5. Fernando lasted 2 balls edging Chalal to Crawley at first slip. Notts 348 all out off 123 overs, Hogan the outstanding bowler with 5 for 63. Clarke, as he had done against the Bears, led the way with a tremendous rearguard effort.
Kent required 168 off 32 overs at 5.25 RPO, it looked a relatively easy target on the somnolent surface but with a lack of big hitters in their line up, much depended on Zak Crawley. Fernando (Pavilion End) and Paterson shared the new ball. Crucially, Crawley (4) fell in the 2nd over caught by James on the square leg ropes off Paterson, 6 for 1. Muyeye was putting bat to ball and hit Fernando for six over square leg in the 4th over. Later in the same over, Bell-Drummond (4) edged Fernando to sole slipper Harrison who took an easy chance, 29 for 2. Muyeye was dropped on 21 a regulation legside chance to Moores off Fernando. Muyeye played a delivery from Fernando to Montgomery into the covers, Leaning decided to run and got two thirds of the way down the pitch before being sent back but he failed to beat the erratic throw from Montgomery, with Harrison running from mid on taking the ball and demolishing the stumps, 42 for 3 in the 7th over. Kent reached 50 in the 8th over. The dangerous Muyeye, going for legside swipe, edged a fast rising delivery from Fernando, Moores taking a good catch above his head, 52 for 4 in the 9th over. Finch was comprehensively bowled by a well pitched up delivery from Fernando for 7, 59 for 5 in the 13th over. Evison did well to keep out a decanting yorker from Fernando. From this point with Evison joining Compton at the crease, Kent, who could not afford to lose the game, shut up shop.
The last hour commenced at 1708 with Kent 66 for 5 off 18 overs. Harrison replaced the outstanding Fernando (3 for 40) from the Pavilion End. Montgomery came on for the 24th over from the Nackington End. Montgomery snaffled Compton (7) caught at short leg by Slater, 73 for 6 after 27 overs. With four overs remaining, Fernando returned for one last hurrah which enabled Harrison to change ends. The draw was agreed at 1803 with Kent standing on a sorry 86 for 6 off 31.3 overs with three balls/five minutes remaining.
Clarke and Hutton had saved Notts' bacon after too many Notts batsmen had failed on a very placid pitch that never really took the expected turn. Kent, who had the best batting conditions on the opening day after winning the toss, had done little wrong in the field on the last day, the somnolent pitch and Clarke's and Hutton's concentration being the ultimate reason why the match was drawn. Notts bowling attack looked much stronger than Kent's. Notts though should have easily obtained five points on that batting surface, it was their failure to do so which enabled the last day to be so gripping. The problem with the top order very much remains. MAG
A magnificent 8th wicket stand of 148 in 36 overs between Joe Clarke (141 not out off 277 balls, 21 x 4 , 1 x 6) and Brett Hutton (84 off 130 balls, 11 x 4) was the cornerstone for Notts salvaging an unexpected draw at the St Lawrence Ground today.
Early morning showers meant the start was delayed. Play commenced at 1119 with 13 overs lost. Chahal (Nackington Road End) and Nijjar bowled initially. The 100 partnership between Clarke and James came up in 243 balls. The two spinners bowled six overs in 16 minutes. The new ball was taken at 1135 with Notts 180 for 5 off 80 overs. It only took Hogan four deliveries to remove James (39) caught at first slip by Leaning, 180 for 6. Harrison departed first ball palpably lbw to the Australian. The game looked as good as over with just Hutton and the two rabbits Paterson and Fernando to come. How wrong we all were.
Hutton pushed the hat trick ball into the covers to make the scores level. Hutton hit Gilchrist for successive fours in the 84th over. Hutton was going for his shots taking advantage of Kent's attacking fields. The Notts 200 was achieved via a cover driven boundary by Hutton off Hogan in the 85th over. In the following over Hutton found the cover ropes off consecutive Gilchrist deliveries. An inside edged boundary by Hutton off Gilchrist brought up the 50 partnership in 52 balls of which Hutton had contributed 45. Evison replaced Hogan from the Nackington Road End for the 91st over and for the following over Nijjar returned from the Pavilion End but Clarke and Hutton stood firm. Notts 235 for 7 off 92 overs at lunch with Clarke on 70 and Hutton on 48.
Immediately after lunch Gilchrist replaced Nijjar from the Pavilion End and with his second delivery Hutton pushed a single to achieve a run a ball 50. The Notts 250 came up in the 96th over with a four for Hutton through backward point. Clarke hit two boundaries off Evison in the 97th over. The over went for 10 so Leaning replaced him with Hogan. An on driven boundary by Clarke off Hogan saw his to his ton off 222 balls in the 101st over. The 100 partnership between Clarke and Hutton took 134 balls. The Notts lead went into three figures with Clarke hitting Gilchrist for four through wide third man in the 104th over. Hutton pulled Gilchrist for four, the ball just evading the grasp of Hogan at long leg. In the same over which cost 14, Gilchrist were pulled twice to the square boundary by Clarke. Nijjar replaced Hogan in the 107th over with Notts reaching 300 via a single for Hutton. Chalal came on for the following over with Clarke hitting him for six on the banks at square leg. A pushed two for Hutton off Chalal in the 113th over put Hutton passed his career best score of 74 made versus Durham at Trent Bridge in 2016. The Notts pair at this stage looked immovable. Then Clarke bottom edged an attempted drive from a ball from Nijjar to behind square on the leg side, Hutton charged down the pitch but was sent back with Chalal throwing the ball back to bowler Nijjar with Hutton (84) well short of his ground, 328 for 8 in the 117th over. Kent had achieved the crucial breakthrough.
Clarke hit Niijar for three boundaries in four balls in the 121st over. Gilchrist returned from the Pavilion End for the 132nd over. Notts 348 for 8 off 122 overs with Clarke on 140 and Paterson on 5. The game very much in the balance.
Chalal made his team favourites by picking up the remaining Notts two wickets in the first over after tea. Incredibly the fourth time in the innings where Notts had lost two wickets in the same over. Paterson was caught at second slip by Bell-Drummond for 5. Fernando lasted 2 balls edging Chalal to Crawley at first slip. Notts 348 all out off 123 overs, Hogan the outstanding bowler with 5 for 63. Clarke, as he had done against the Bears, led the way with a tremendous rearguard effort.
Kent required 168 off 32 overs at 5.25 RPO, it looked a relatively easy target on the somnolent surface but with a lack of big hitters in their line up, much depended on Zak Crawley. Fernando (Pavilion End) and Paterson shared the new ball. Crucially, Crawley (4) fell in the 2nd over caught by James on the square leg ropes off Paterson, 6 for 1. Muyeye was putting bat to ball and hit Fernando for six over square leg in the 4th over. Later in the same over, Bell-Drummond (4) edged Fernando to sole slipper Harrison who took an easy chance, 29 for 2. Muyeye was dropped on 21 a regulation legside chance to Moores off Fernando. Muyeye played a delivery from Fernando to Montgomery into the covers, Leaning decided to run and got two thirds of the way down the pitch before being sent back but he failed to beat the erratic throw from Montgomery, with Harrison running from mid on taking the ball and demolishing the stumps, 42 for 3 in the 7th over. Kent reached 50 in the 8th over. The dangerous Muyeye, going for legside swipe, edged a fast rising delivery from Fernando, Moores taking a good catch above his head, 52 for 4 in the 9th over. Finch was comprehensively bowled by a well pitched up delivery from Fernando for 7, 59 for 5 in the 13th over. Evison did well to keep out a decanting yorker from Fernando. From this point with Evison joining Compton at the crease, Kent, who could not afford to lose the game, shut up shop.
The last hour commenced at 1708 with Kent 66 for 5 off 18 overs. Harrison replaced the outstanding Fernando (3 for 40) from the Pavilion End. Montgomery came on for the 24th over from the Nackington End. Montgomery snaffled Compton (7) caught at short leg by Slater, 73 for 6 after 27 overs. With four overs remaining, Fernando returned for one last hurrah which enabled Harrison to change ends. The draw was agreed at 1803 with Kent standing on a sorry 86 for 6 off 31.3 overs with three balls/five minutes remaining.
Clarke and Hutton had saved Notts' bacon after too many Notts batsmen had failed on a very placid pitch that never really took the expected turn. Kent, who had the best batting conditions on the opening day after winning the toss, had done little wrong in the field on the last day, the somnolent pitch and Clarke's and Hutton's concentration being the ultimate reason why the match was drawn. Notts bowling attack looked much stronger than Kent's. Notts though should have easily obtained five points on that batting surface, it was their failure to do so which enabled the last day to be so gripping. The problem with the top order very much remains. MAG
Day 3
BELATED RESISTANCE DELAYS KENT'S PROBABLE VICTORY
Notts put up some belated resistance at Canterbury as Joe Clarke (61 not out) and Lyndon James added an unbroken 99 for the 6th wicket after Notts had followed-on, closing on 177 for 5 off 74 overs, still four runs behind Kent's first innings total.
Notts first innings lasted a further 24.2 overs in the morning with a further 46 runs accrued. Hutton and Paterson offered a straight bat for 14 overs against spin twins Nijjar and Chalal having added ten to the overnight total when Paterson (16) skied Nijjar to Leaning at mid off, 229 for 9 after 88 overs. Gilchrist replaced Chalal for the 93rd over. Fernando hit Nijjar for six over mid wicket, that took Notts to an unexpected batting point. The new ball was taken with Notts 263 for 9 after 96.4 overs. Gilchrist took the final wicket having Hutton caught behind by Finch for 31 off 101 balls of stubborn resistance. Notts 265 all out off 98.2 overs, Fernando surprisingly everybody with an unbeaten 14 off 31 balls.
Notts trailing by 181 runs were forced to follow on. Hogan (Nackington Road End) and Gilchrist shared the new ball. Slater hit two boundaries off Gilchrist in the 6th over. The out of form Hameed was bowled by Hogan for 7 attempting to whip the ball through mid wicket, 19 for 1 in the 7th over, a poor shot. Nijjar bowled the last over before lunch. Notts 20 for 1 after 8 overs at the interval with Slater on 13 and Mullaney on 0.
Notts put up some belated resistance at Canterbury as Joe Clarke (61 not out) and Lyndon James added an unbroken 99 for the 6th wicket after Notts had followed-on, closing on 177 for 5 off 74 overs, still four runs behind Kent's first innings total.
Notts first innings lasted a further 24.2 overs in the morning with a further 46 runs accrued. Hutton and Paterson offered a straight bat for 14 overs against spin twins Nijjar and Chalal having added ten to the overnight total when Paterson (16) skied Nijjar to Leaning at mid off, 229 for 9 after 88 overs. Gilchrist replaced Chalal for the 93rd over. Fernando hit Nijjar for six over mid wicket, that took Notts to an unexpected batting point. The new ball was taken with Notts 263 for 9 after 96.4 overs. Gilchrist took the final wicket having Hutton caught behind by Finch for 31 off 101 balls of stubborn resistance. Notts 265 all out off 98.2 overs, Fernando surprisingly everybody with an unbeaten 14 off 31 balls.
Notts trailing by 181 runs were forced to follow on. Hogan (Nackington Road End) and Gilchrist shared the new ball. Slater hit two boundaries off Gilchrist in the 6th over. The out of form Hameed was bowled by Hogan for 7 attempting to whip the ball through mid wicket, 19 for 1 in the 7th over, a poor shot. Nijjar bowled the last over before lunch. Notts 20 for 1 after 8 overs at the interval with Slater on 13 and Mullaney on 0.
Gilchrist returned for the 15th over from the Nackington Road End but Slater and Mullaney looked secure on the very easy paced surface. Slater hit Gilchrist for 6 over mid wicket in the 17th over. Rain stopped play at 1358 with Notts 58 for 1 off 21 overs with Slater on 37 and Mullaney on 10.
Play resumed at 1434 with 36 minutes lost out of the action, the number of overs bowled was never an issue with so much spin on show. Evison came on for the 23rd over. In Evison's second over, the game changed dramatically with two wickets in four balls with Mullaney and Slater both throwing their wickets away. Mullaney (13) pulled a long hop straight to substitute Arafat on the square leg ropes, 63 for 2. Slater (39) then drove Evison straight to Hogan at mid on, 64 for 3. Two truly awful shots completely unforgivable given the match situation and on such a flat deck.
Montgomery (6) was yorked by Hogan, the delivery hitting the base of the off stump, 78 for 4 in the 35th over. This the only one wicket of the five that Notts lost that could be considered not to be given away.
Moores was once again surprisingly given the number six berth and lasted four balls before edging Hogan to first slip where Crawley took an outstanding catch diving low to his right. A trademark Moores dismissal, feet nailed to the floor swiping outside off stump. Moores managing to bag a pair, hardly surprising after six weeks of total inactivity. Notts 78 for 5 in the 36th over on a pitch still holding little terror. Notts got to tea on 87 for 5 òff 38 overs with Clarke on 13 and James on 2.
Clarke and James batted sensibly after the interval, taking a no risk approach. Evison and Nijjar shared the bowling duties immediately after tea. Chalal replaced Evison in the 49th over. Hogan came on for the 55th over with Chalal changing ends. Fifty eight minutes after tea Clarke found the ropes twice in successive deliveries off Chalal, the first Notts boundaries since tea. Clarke hit Chalal for a mid wicket boundary to bring up the 50 partnership in 137 balls. Leaning came on for the 61st over with Clarke hitting a full toss to the mid wicket boundary, seven off the over. Nijjar was reintroduced for the following over. Clarke's 50 came up in 130 balls with a boundary off Nijjar. Evison was brought back for the 69th over with James and Clarke standing firm when stumps were drawn at 1802. The new ball is due six overs into tomorrow. MAG
Kent won a crucial toss and elected to bat on an easy paced surface which is expected to turn later. They gave debuts to Indian leg spinner Yuzvendra Chalal and slow left armer Aron Nijjar on loan from Essex. Notts bizarrely left Liam Patterson-White out of the line up and gave a debut to Asitha Fernando. The Sri Lankan right arm seamer, recommended by former Notts pathway coach Anton Roux bowled with pace and generated some bounce on the dead surface in the morning before tiring later on. He bowled as well as what could have been expected having only arrived in the country 24 hours before and not having played for 2 months. However with Notts batting line up being flaky all season, an overseas batsmen seemed to be by far the more obvious choice to see out the season.
Off the sixth delivery of the morning, Crawley was dropped on two by Paterson at backward point off Hutton (Nackington Road End), a sitter. Fernando was his opening partner. Crawley hit Hutton for four successive boundaries in his second over. Hutton, bowling too short at times, conceded 27 off his opening four overs before making way for Paterson. Crawley was dropped for a second time on 24 by Hameed at mid wicket off Fernando's fifth over. The Sri Lankan had generated plenty of pace and bounce in his opening overs (5 2 11 0). James came on for the 12th over from the Pavilion End. An edged boundary by Crawley off Paterson saw Kent to 50 in the 15th over. In the 20th over, Crawley launched James for a huge six over square leg. Crawley reached 53 off 54 balls with a straight driven boundary off Paterson. He repeated the shot off the following delivery, 10 off the 21st over. Harrison replaced James for the 22nd over and Hutton came on for Paterson off the following over but again proved expensive. Crawley hit him for three boundaries in four deliveries in the 25th over. Mullaney appeared for the 27th over and with his second delivery he beat both Crawley and Moores standing up with an off cutter that went for four byes. Compton (18) on the reverse sweep was bowled off his pads by Harrison, 95 for 1 in the 28th over. Kent 96 for 1 off 29 overs at lunch with Crawley on 73 and Bell-Drummond on 0.
Fernando (Pavilion End) and Mullaney shared the bowling duties immediately after lunch. James replaced Fernando for the 40th over. Paterson returned for the 41st over with a four through point by Bell-Drummond bringing up the Kent 150. Crawley reached his run a ball high class 100 with an offside single off James in the 42nd over. Notts deeply regretting dropping him twice. Notts ground fielding remained sloppy all day, although it has to be pointed out that the temperature was 30 degrees almost throughout. An extremely bad toss to lose.
Harrison was reintroduced for the 46th over. Hutton returned for the 53rd over. The Kent 200 came up via a straight six by Crawley off Harrison in the 54th over. Bell-Drummond reached his 50 off 106 ball's with a two off Harrison in the 56th over. Fernando switched to the Nackington Road End in the 59th over. Crawley smashed Harrison for six over mid wicket in the 60th over. A single to fine leg for Crawley off Fernando saw him to 150 off 146 in the 61st over. Notts, who let Kent get far too many runs throughout the day through the vacant third man position but suddenly came to life taking wickets with successive deliveries, both to outstanding catches.
Crawley (158 off 153 balls, 18x4, 3x6) finally departed smashing the ball to Harrison who took an excellent return catch diving to his left, 248 for 2 after 62 overs. Crawley and Bell-Drummond had added 153 for the second wicket. The very next ball, Bell-Drummond (60) was dismissed to an excellent leap to his leg side by Moores off Fernando, 248 for 3. Muyeye hit the last ball before tea for six over mid wicket off Harrison. Kent got to the break on 254 for 3 off 64 overs with Muyeye on 10 and Leaning on 2.
Kent piled on the runs after tea adding a further 133 runs to take Notts out of the contest. In the 67th over, Muyeye hit Paterson for successive offside boundaries. In the next over, Leaning hit Harrison for a straight six. In the 72nd over, the 50 stand between Muyeye and Leaning came up in 55 balls with a four through mid wicket by Leaning, the Kent 300 came up in the same over. Mullaney returned for the 73rd over. Muyeye (35) edged Mullaney for 4 but departed the very next ball smartly caught by sole slipper Harrison leaping to his right, 307 for 4 after 73 overs. Any hope of Notts making further inroads was extinguished as Leaning (54 not out) and Finch (42 not out) added an unbeaten 80 against the tiring Notts attack.
The new ball was taken by Hutton (Pavilion End) and Fernando with Kent 329 for 4 off 81 overs, but they carried little menace. With the floodlights now on, Kent passed 350 in the 86th over. Mullaney and Paterson came on for the 89th and 90th overs respectively. Harrison came on for the 94th over. Leaning got to his 50 off 99 balls with a four to fine leg off Mullaney as the sun reappeared, Kent closing on 387 for 4. It all been set up by Crawley, who having not been picked for the England T20 line up was given last week off. Notts meanwhile were without Duckett who had been granted a weeks leave by England having sat on the England subs bench last week. The 19 days gap between fixtures had a massive effect on the two outstanding bowlers of the season Hutton and Paterson who had combined figures of 32 1 137 0. Harrison got some balls to turn, but proved somewhat expensive. Mullaney did a good job holding an end up but this was very much Kent's day. We will find out tomorrow whether the coaches decision to favour an overseas bowler over a batsman will prove a masterstroke or a blunder. MAG
Play resumed at 1434 with 36 minutes lost out of the action, the number of overs bowled was never an issue with so much spin on show. Evison came on for the 23rd over. In Evison's second over, the game changed dramatically with two wickets in four balls with Mullaney and Slater both throwing their wickets away. Mullaney (13) pulled a long hop straight to substitute Arafat on the square leg ropes, 63 for 2. Slater (39) then drove Evison straight to Hogan at mid on, 64 for 3. Two truly awful shots completely unforgivable given the match situation and on such a flat deck.
Montgomery (6) was yorked by Hogan, the delivery hitting the base of the off stump, 78 for 4 in the 35th over. This the only one wicket of the five that Notts lost that could be considered not to be given away.
Moores was once again surprisingly given the number six berth and lasted four balls before edging Hogan to first slip where Crawley took an outstanding catch diving low to his right. A trademark Moores dismissal, feet nailed to the floor swiping outside off stump. Moores managing to bag a pair, hardly surprising after six weeks of total inactivity. Notts 78 for 5 in the 36th over on a pitch still holding little terror. Notts got to tea on 87 for 5 òff 38 overs with Clarke on 13 and James on 2.
Clarke and James batted sensibly after the interval, taking a no risk approach. Evison and Nijjar shared the bowling duties immediately after tea. Chalal replaced Evison in the 49th over. Hogan came on for the 55th over with Chalal changing ends. Fifty eight minutes after tea Clarke found the ropes twice in successive deliveries off Chalal, the first Notts boundaries since tea. Clarke hit Chalal for a mid wicket boundary to bring up the 50 partnership in 137 balls. Leaning came on for the 61st over with Clarke hitting a full toss to the mid wicket boundary, seven off the over. Nijjar was reintroduced for the following over. Clarke's 50 came up in 130 balls with a boundary off Nijjar. Evison was brought back for the 69th over with James and Clarke standing firm when stumps were drawn at 1802. The new ball is due six overs into tomorrow. MAG
Day 2
NOTTS IN A TAILSPIN AT THE SPITFIRE GROUND ON DAY OF FOURTEEN WICKETS
Kent are heading for a comprehensive 3 day victory after yet another Notts collapse saw them nosedive from 160 for 2 to 174 for 6 and close on 219 for 8, still trailing Kent by 227 runs. After losing the out of form opening pair of Slater and Hameed early, Clarke and Mullaney were making all untroubled progress on what was still an easy paced surface when in what turned out to be the last delivery before tea, Clarke threw his wicket away hitting slow left armer Aron Nijjar straight to Leaning at extra cover. Niijar, on loan from Essex, with a career record of 19 wickets @42.42 in his 14 match first class career then proceeded to take a further two wickets, Mullaney skying him to third man and Moores, attempting to drive a ball with both feet cemented to the ground being bowled through the gate. James, Montgomery and Harrison then all fell to leg spinner Chanal who was getting turn and bounce from the Nackinton Road End. The pitch though remains hard and true and this was very much the case of poor batting rather than outstanding bowling. One can only hope that the Notts coach is suitably red faced after electing to go for overseas seamer over an experienced overseas batsmen which is what the team badly required.
Kent lost their remaining six wickets for 59 runs in 95 minutes play on a sunny morning with Paterson and Hutton bowling much better than yesterday, Off the 14th delivery of the morning, Finch (47) was caught by Moores diving to his right off Paterson (Nackington Road End), 394 for 5 in the 99th over. The Kent 400 was achieved in the 101st over. Leaning's (63) innings ended tamely driving Paterson straight to Mullaney at mid wicket, 411 for 6 in the 105th over. Hutton replaced Fernando from the Pavilion End in the 108th over. In the following over, Nijjar hooked Paterson for six over long leg. Kent reached 430 for 6 at 110 overs. The following over, James replaced Paterson from the Nackington Road End. Evison (16) top edged an attempted pull shot off James and was caught by keeper Moores, 442 for 7 in the 113th over. Nijjar was dropped on 11 by Moores diving to his left off James. The following delivery Gilchrist skied James to Hutton at mid off, 446 for 8 in the 115th over. Nijjar (12) was caught by substitute Sammy King at long leg off Hutton, 446 for 9 in the 116th over. Chahal fell for a 2 ball duck edging Hutton to Moores, Kent 446 all out off 115.4 overs, Hogan 0 not out. Mr Extras ending with 34 with byes totalling 14. Each of the six bowlers used took a wicket with James having the best figures of 2 for 30.
Slater fell to the third ball of the Notts innings caught at second slip by Leaning off Hogan (Nackington Road End), 0 for 1. Gilchrist was Hogan's new ball partner. Notts were 15 for 1 off 4 overs at lunch with Hameed on 6 and Slater on 7.
Mullaney hit Gilchrist for successive boundaries in the sixth over. Hameed (9) fell in the following over edging Hogan behind to keeper Finch, 29 for 2. Hogan had bowled well during his opening spell. Chahal came on for the 14th over. Evison came on for the 17th over and a short ball from the former Notts all rounder was hit for six over backward square leg by Mullaney. Mullaney then guided Evison for four and three successive shots to third man in an opening over costing 13. The 50 partnership between Mullaney and Clarke came up in 84 balls. Mullaney inside edged Evison for four to reach his first 50 of the season off 66 balls. Clarke was dropped on 29 a fierce return effort to Chalal which the leg spinner failed to hold. Notts 100 came up in the 26th over with Gilchrist coming on to enable Chalal to immediately change ends. The hundred partnership came up in 150 balls via a lofted legside four by Mullaney off Gilchrist. Hogan returned from the Nackington Road End for the 33rd over. Clarke got to his 50 off 87 balls with a legside single off Gilchrist. In the 36th over, Nijjar's fifth delivery was guided for six by Mullaney over mid wicket. The Notts 150 came up in the 37th over via four through third man by Clarke off Hogan. Notts were making comfortable progress but then Clarke fell in the last over before tea caught by Leaning at extra cover off Nijjar for 62 off 110 balls (8x4). It was a terrible shot to play just before the interval, and experienced Notts watchers sensed the timetabled collapse that was to follow.Notts 160 for 3 off 41.5 overs at the interval with Mullaney on 78. The third wicket had added 131 in 35 overs.
Like Clarke, Mullaney (86 off 141 balls, 12x4, 2x6) threw his wicket away, attempting to hit the slow left armer over cow corner, he only succeeded in bottom edging the delivery and skying Nijjar straight to Bell-Drummond at short mid wicket, 169 for 4 after 46 overs. Moores without an innings for over six weeks, was surprisingly given the number six position but lasted only eight balls, failing to move his feet he was bowled by Nijjar for a duck, 173 for 5 in the 50th over. Chalal replaced Gilchrist from the Nackington Road End for the 53rd over and got one to turn and remove James' (1) off stump with his third ball of his new spell, 174 for 6. Undoubtedly the ball of the day.
Montgomery and Harrison somewhat fortuitously added 25 for the 7th wicket before Montgomery (16) chipped Chalal straight to Leaning at short extra, 199 for 7 in the 63rd over. Harrison's (15) painful innings ended as he skied Chalal to Leaning in the covers, 206 for 8 in the 67th over. Paterson (10 not out) promoted to number ten due to Fernando's sheer ineptitude with the bat joined Hutton (9 not out) at the middle and they survived the last 45 deliveries of the day with Notts closing on 219 for 8 off 74 overs. To think that only two hours earlier they were standing at 160 for 2. MAG
Day 1
CENTURION CRAWLEY PUTS KENT IN FULL CONTROL
Zak Crawley played what could well turn out to be a match winning 158 at a steaming hot Canterbury today. Badly dropped on 2 and 24 he took full advantage smashing Notts to all parts as Kent closed on a commanding 387 for 4 after a one sided first day at Canterbury.Kent won a crucial toss and elected to bat on an easy paced surface which is expected to turn later. They gave debuts to Indian leg spinner Yuzvendra Chalal and slow left armer Aron Nijjar on loan from Essex. Notts bizarrely left Liam Patterson-White out of the line up and gave a debut to Asitha Fernando. The Sri Lankan right arm seamer, recommended by former Notts pathway coach Anton Roux bowled with pace and generated some bounce on the dead surface in the morning before tiring later on. He bowled as well as what could have been expected having only arrived in the country 24 hours before and not having played for 2 months. However with Notts batting line up being flaky all season, an overseas batsmen seemed to be by far the more obvious choice to see out the season.
Off the sixth delivery of the morning, Crawley was dropped on two by Paterson at backward point off Hutton (Nackington Road End), a sitter. Fernando was his opening partner. Crawley hit Hutton for four successive boundaries in his second over. Hutton, bowling too short at times, conceded 27 off his opening four overs before making way for Paterson. Crawley was dropped for a second time on 24 by Hameed at mid wicket off Fernando's fifth over. The Sri Lankan had generated plenty of pace and bounce in his opening overs (5 2 11 0). James came on for the 12th over from the Pavilion End. An edged boundary by Crawley off Paterson saw Kent to 50 in the 15th over. In the 20th over, Crawley launched James for a huge six over square leg. Crawley reached 53 off 54 balls with a straight driven boundary off Paterson. He repeated the shot off the following delivery, 10 off the 21st over. Harrison replaced James for the 22nd over and Hutton came on for Paterson off the following over but again proved expensive. Crawley hit him for three boundaries in four deliveries in the 25th over. Mullaney appeared for the 27th over and with his second delivery he beat both Crawley and Moores standing up with an off cutter that went for four byes. Compton (18) on the reverse sweep was bowled off his pads by Harrison, 95 for 1 in the 28th over. Kent 96 for 1 off 29 overs at lunch with Crawley on 73 and Bell-Drummond on 0.
Fernando (Pavilion End) and Mullaney shared the bowling duties immediately after lunch. James replaced Fernando for the 40th over. Paterson returned for the 41st over with a four through point by Bell-Drummond bringing up the Kent 150. Crawley reached his run a ball high class 100 with an offside single off James in the 42nd over. Notts deeply regretting dropping him twice. Notts ground fielding remained sloppy all day, although it has to be pointed out that the temperature was 30 degrees almost throughout. An extremely bad toss to lose.
Harrison was reintroduced for the 46th over. Hutton returned for the 53rd over. The Kent 200 came up via a straight six by Crawley off Harrison in the 54th over. Bell-Drummond reached his 50 off 106 ball's with a two off Harrison in the 56th over. Fernando switched to the Nackington Road End in the 59th over. Crawley smashed Harrison for six over mid wicket in the 60th over. A single to fine leg for Crawley off Fernando saw him to 150 off 146 in the 61st over. Notts, who let Kent get far too many runs throughout the day through the vacant third man position but suddenly came to life taking wickets with successive deliveries, both to outstanding catches.
Crawley (158 off 153 balls, 18x4, 3x6) finally departed smashing the ball to Harrison who took an excellent return catch diving to his left, 248 for 2 after 62 overs. Crawley and Bell-Drummond had added 153 for the second wicket. The very next ball, Bell-Drummond (60) was dismissed to an excellent leap to his leg side by Moores off Fernando, 248 for 3. Muyeye hit the last ball before tea for six over mid wicket off Harrison. Kent got to the break on 254 for 3 off 64 overs with Muyeye on 10 and Leaning on 2.
Kent piled on the runs after tea adding a further 133 runs to take Notts out of the contest. In the 67th over, Muyeye hit Paterson for successive offside boundaries. In the next over, Leaning hit Harrison for a straight six. In the 72nd over, the 50 stand between Muyeye and Leaning came up in 55 balls with a four through mid wicket by Leaning, the Kent 300 came up in the same over. Mullaney returned for the 73rd over. Muyeye (35) edged Mullaney for 4 but departed the very next ball smartly caught by sole slipper Harrison leaping to his right, 307 for 4 after 73 overs. Any hope of Notts making further inroads was extinguished as Leaning (54 not out) and Finch (42 not out) added an unbeaten 80 against the tiring Notts attack.
The new ball was taken by Hutton (Pavilion End) and Fernando with Kent 329 for 4 off 81 overs, but they carried little menace. With the floodlights now on, Kent passed 350 in the 86th over. Mullaney and Paterson came on for the 89th and 90th overs respectively. Harrison came on for the 94th over. Leaning got to his 50 off 99 balls with a four to fine leg off Mullaney as the sun reappeared, Kent closing on 387 for 4. It all been set up by Crawley, who having not been picked for the England T20 line up was given last week off. Notts meanwhile were without Duckett who had been granted a weeks leave by England having sat on the England subs bench last week. The 19 days gap between fixtures had a massive effect on the two outstanding bowlers of the season Hutton and Paterson who had combined figures of 32 1 137 0. Harrison got some balls to turn, but proved somewhat expensive. Mullaney did a good job holding an end up but this was very much Kent's day. We will find out tomorrow whether the coaches decision to favour an overseas bowler over a batsman will prove a masterstroke or a blunder. MAG
The Notts XI:
Ben Slater
Haseeb Hameed
Matt Montgomery
Joe Clarke
Lyndon James
Steven Mullaney
Tom Moores
Calvin Harrison
Brett Hutton
Asitha Fernando
Dane Paterson
The Kent XI has 7 changes from the last Championship game (at Trent Bridge), including their inclusion of Zak Crawley, captain for the England ODI series with Ireland later this month. So why no Ben Duckett for Notts? Both Duckett and Crawley last played on 24th July for their franchises and will be expected to play in the first ODI against Ireland as captain and vice-captain, so why the discrepancy?
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With no news and only four photographs of a handful of players in the sunshine of Lady Bay to work with, wild speculation is being positively encouraged about the squad make-up for the must-not-lose fixture in the Garden of England.
Are Stone and Ball fit and able to play? - Probably not if Fernando was been called-in.
Do we need two spinners for this game? Two from three: Harrison, Patterson-White and Carter... - it's been hot for days, you'd expect the pitch to be bone dry so spinners makes some sense to me.
Are Paterson and Hutton fit and how is Fletcher recuperating?
There hasn't been the announcement of an overseas player but springing a surprise even after the squad announcement is almost to be expected from Pravda but do we need one for this game, is Ben Duckett available for this round of games? (Zak Crawley available for Kent?)
The only certainty for this game is that Kent won't as much a push over as they were back in July, when last time Notts and Kent played with a red ball.
Harsh on Tom Moores if he one of the 3 number 11s !?
ReplyDeleteYoung Thomas on form, before of his six week break, should be batting ahead of the captain.
DeleteRe pitch, 2 spinners etc, is the weather going to break or just get cooler ? Reading the forecast, not clear on that.
ReplyDeleteYes Rich, a rare oppo for 2 spinners, but probably not
ReplyDeleteDare we throw Jake into another 4 dayer ?????
I can hear the drums 🪘 Fernando
But now without Will Young again, the batting looks fragile to say the least I
I've been thinking for a while now about how to get the balance of the team right to allow both LPW and Calvin Harrison to play together regularly in the long-term. Would either be happy to play second fiddle in first-class matches for long, waiting for those rare occasions when two spinners are needed, and in the meantime being a journeyman second eleven regular? Or would it need another of those often-awkward rotation policies designed to try and keep everyone happy?
ReplyDeleteI suppose a weaker top-order makes it a bit easier at the moment, requiring as it does the need to bolster the lower middle-order. But could either emerge as a genuine all-rounder (i.e. a bona fide number six/seven), perhaps in time for when the captain departs, that'd make things easier? LPW feels like a mainstay for the foreseeable future while Harrison's fielding is generally excellent, has seeming potential with the bat, and his variety has been particularly useful since he's broken into the team.
Two really good prospects, but both playing roles that demand lots of playing time, and perhaps a bit of patience, to allow them to learn their craft and flourish. But how does that work, given a corporate taste for a conveyor belt of fast-mediums (the 'cartel', yawn) and the often seamer-friendly conditions at Brigadoon . . . sorry, Trent Bridge.
80 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteABBA AND FERNANDO - a distant link!
Could well be that Fletch will not bowl another ball for Notts this season ? Much harder to recover from injury with an aging body .
Three 4 dayers to go and still a lot to play for
Is duckett with the 50 over squad.If not like you say why hasn't he been picked for Notts.?
ReplyDeleteNot in the squad for the NZ series.
DeleteThanks admin.
DeleteSo after day 1 it's already looking like the best we can hope for is to somehow salvage a draw from this match.We live in hope.
ReplyDeleteAnother non eventful day, in what has been a non eventful season.
ReplyDeleteThe management will argue about injuries to the bowler's, but in all honesty , Notts should be doing much better than this, with their resources.
As the season starts to draw to a close, can we expect an improvement in 2024. With this management still likely to be in situ, then the answer is probably no.Keep taking the happy pills, and hope for the best, that's what I say.
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ReplyDeleteA single word to describe this Notts ccc season ?
Mediocre.
The batting averages for some of the top order are abysmal.
Hutton and Paterson are probably now clapped out after their efforts.
One or two players , promoted last season into the First 11 have had a very average season .
There were even rumbings of discontent yesterday from the players loyal friend Double Corset
Pravda calls yesterday’s performance “plucky”. The only test match county that pushes the brave underdogs narrative. Agree with the point above, we should expect better.
ReplyDeleteThe Kent live stream is effing useless 👎👎👎
ReplyDeleteIt is the worst that I've encountered this season. To think that they actually charge to watch their broadcast for The Blast. When it is actually working, it's out of sync with the audio and then it's losing time so after a while you're watching something that is two minutes behind live. Yes it's free but it's the worst of the 18, even behind Sussex now and Sussex's remains fairly rubbish in comparison to perhaps 14 or 15 other counties' also free services. In a five star rating they don't get even one star.
DeleteThe lack of quality in the live streaming currently matches the performance of Notts, so far in this contest.
ReplyDeleteOnce again we have witnessed the batting, collapsing like a pack of cards.
Matt Milnes cited the wicket at this venue, as a prime reason for departing for pastures new.
Yet true to form, Notts select 5 potential seam bowlers and one solitary spin bowler, and no surprise, Kent's two spinners have so far claimed the majority of wickets taken.
Whatever methods Peter Moores is employing regarding batting instruction, the message isn't being received. He and the rest of the management team need to stop drinking the happy clappy juice, and see the situation for what it is.
Whether or not Notts manage to stay in this division for another season, Newell and Moores are a spent force. The quality of recruitment in recent times has been pretty dire , the player pathway appears to have been abandoned and the coaching methods and team selections are as predictable as the day is long.
No wonder Notts membership is in decline.As others have stated, mediocrity has become a way of life at Trent Bridge.
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ReplyDeleteFine common sense comments in the above post
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ReplyDeleteThe second day summary - what a sorry read !
Have NOTTS just given up on the rest of the season ? Too many players spending far too many days on the golf course?
Two amazing facts revealed .
Yesterday Captain Mullaney scored his first 50 of the season ! Almost impossible to believe
Secondly , yesterday Tom Moores had his first batting for SIX WEEKS !
A perfect illustration of how barmy the cricket season has become . It’s now so disjointed , no one seems to have a clue what type of game to play .
You do feel for some of the players . Being sidelined for long periods . This situation CANNOT continue . The ECB have got to somehow sort things out .
THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY OF MANAGING THE WHOLE CRICKET SEASON !?
joelandethan I have not brought myself to watch this for any length of time but did see the dismissals of Clarke and Mullaney in the first inning and Mullaney and then Slater just now. I'm very sorry to say that all of those looked like the shots of people who really don't like batting and didn't want to have to bother with the tedious business of facing another ball or few. Of course I may be being unfair as they may all have been batting well and some odd things might have happened though not obvious from the video but Mullaney's shot was inexplicable - Clarke was just out so consolidation was needed, he had just been beaten by a turning ball so the risk of turn was readily apparent and didn't he want a hundred? Such scrambled thinking can happen especially under pressure and becomes endemic in a team on a downward spiral but there have been signs of talent, fight and spirit this season so yet again for the zillionth time one asks what management and coaching are doing to maximise the talents of the squad they have assembled. And dropping a test-playing centurion twice before 30 certainly doesn't help. And yes it would be nice if our test playing opener was allowed to play.
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CLOSE OF PLAY Day 3
Notts hanging in there with some late spirited resistance . Can a combination of poor weather tomorrow combined with some applied technique from the remaining NOTTS batsmen actually get us a draw. ?
Yes very well played Joe Clarke and Lyndon James for their obdurate defiance
ReplyDeleteThis was much needed indeed
We are an average red ball team at present and all the loyal Members and supporters ask for is for some collective fight
We have shown this at times this season, interspersed with abject, appalling, batting collapses and displays with the ball and in the field
Only the Head Coach will know why he opted for an overseas bowler and a pretty average one at that, instead of a batsman ????
Before the August break, Will Young showed what the top 6 was crying 😢 out for in his 3 game championship spell with us
Most supporters I speak to will tell you the batting unit was not strong enough to cope with the rigours of Division One and the average stats of some of the players prove this point perfectly and surely the Notts hierarchy cannot cling to the belief that Ben Duckett may not have been missing for us ???
Incidentally, anyone note that Tom Moores was batting superbly for us, then has no batting for a month due to you know what then gets two ducks 🦆
Quite right, Doc. I was extolling the virtues of Tom's dramatically improved form (with the bat) leading up to the H*****d hiatus. A decent second half of the T20 season and a really discernable improvement in first-class matches too, he was making significant contributions in most innings around that time.
DeleteBut I don't think he's had any real cricket since the reverse Kent fixture at Trent Bridge. I don't think he was used at all by the Bent Sprockets in the H*****d, he wasn't (for whatever reason) released to play for Notts in the One Day Cup and, particularly oddly, didn't play for the seconds last week.
For a player that strikes me as one who needs to be genuinely 'in form' and playing with confidence to make the most of his undoubted attributes, perhaps it comes as absolutely no surprise he's bagged a pair at Canterbury.
The fact is, that young Tom will always be an automatic choice under this management .
ReplyDeleteHe has very little natural batting ability, and a loose technique to put it mildly. For him , he needs to be working on his batting at every given opportunity. As he wasn't selected to play in the Hundred, he should have requested to be released to play for his county, and should also have played for the 2nd team. The two blobs at Kent, have unfortunately shown up his limitations as a batsman.
Poor Tom Tom the pipers son
ReplyDeleteIt's true what they say you can't beat time in the middle & for poor Tom that's crucial
Oversight' not played for over a month a total farce
Defiant show by some batters
ReplyDeleteBut unfortunately hulk hogan will finish us of this morning' overall a poor performance
2nd century partnership of the innings !
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ReplyDeleteMONUMENTAL effort by Clarke and Hutton to get NOTTS to 328- 7 . Hutton on a career best 84 . Be wonderful for him to get his first century .But can he keep it up ?
Joe on 127 after over 5 hours of concentration.
I hope some of the early Top Order NOTTS batsmen have taken note of what can be done
Well that jinxed him
DeleteWell who would have thought that this morning.To get a draw out of that and very nearly win it is a tremendous result.Huge congratulations to Joe and Brett with the bat and then all the bowlers.👍👍👍
ReplyDeleteClinging on for a draw. Not good enough.
ReplyDeleteKENT.
Echo sentiments above by Anon
DeleteBrilliant effort by Clarke and Hutton to effectively save the draw
This is the 2nd time both have batted together this season in heroic fashion I note
Gets the under performing batters off the hook 🪝 somewhat when an embarrassing defeat seemed certain at one point yesterday
Well done Notts on getting the draw. Perhaps people on here will stop slagging them off at every opportunity now for a bit.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree, until Old Trafford
DeleteYes we can thank Clarke and Hutton for salvaging a draw through application, which others couldn't offer on a fairly placid surface.
ReplyDeleteLet us hope that other members of the batting unit show the same level of application for the remaining two games.
Also well done to Fernando, who had an encouraging first match for Notts.
So, for those of us of a 'glass half full' persuasion, it looks like 22 points from the final two fixtures will see Notts secure their first division status for another year, unforseen points deductions notwithstanding.
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ReplyDeleteWorking all day yesterday in the back garden it was very entertaining to heat the ball - by - ball commentary by Dave B and Roland B/Mark . It was the sort of play where you dare not miss a single over- gripping stuff . Great shame about Huttons run out - he looked nailed on for his first heroic Century . He is now nailed on to receive the NOTTS Player Of The Season award .
However it’s important to not get carried away because over half the First 11 are simply not performing . Draws are fine , but they don’t win silverware.
We all know the unpredictable weather and light with play an important part in matches still to be played .
Notts are safe from relegation surely? Should the unlikely happen and NOTTS go back down then I would expect mass resignations from you know who and Co. !?
( But the cosy back slapping , self congratulatory set up would not allow that to happen!)