11/09
NOTTS KEEP TITLE RETENTION DREAMS ALIVE
Olly Stone best keeps the show rolling
Notts beat Hampshire by 54 runs today to remain second in the championship table four points behind leaders Somerset with two games to play. Hampshire were bowled out at 12:35 for 123 off 49.2 overs being ripped apart by Olly Stone with a Notts best of 6 for 28 and Dillon Pennington 3 for 33. Stone now has 41 championship wickets @19.70 this season.
Hampshire resumed on 61 for 6 off 20.4 overs. Sheat completed his unfinished over and then Hameed turned to his main men Pennington (Pavilion End) and Stone (Radcliffe Road)
Overnight pair Mayes and Currie were intent on survival. The sixth over of the morning proved crucial with Stone bowling a two-wicket maiden. Mayes (25) fell to an outstanding catch by Hay diving full stretch low to his right off Stone (68-7). The ball would have not carried to first slip Patterson-White. A highlight reel catch. Jack (0) hit the road after two balls edging a lifter from Stone, 68 for 8 in the 27th over. In his next over, Stone had Abbott (1) plumb lbw; 80 for 9 in the 29th over.
Any hope of a rapid finish was held up by a stubborn last wicket stand of 43 in 20.2 overs between Currie (44 not out) and Lumsden.
Giles surprisingly replaced Pennington ahead of Patterson-White for the 32nd over and bowled a five over spell from the Pavilion End and did not really challenge either batsmen.
Sheat came on for the 37th over replacing the outstanding Stone (14 4 28 6). Both batsmen were finding it easy to push the singles against pretty ordinary bowling. Patterson-White finally came on for the 42nd over but only so Sheat could change ends.
Pennington returned for the 43rd over and the match and the crowd came back to life urging him to take a wicket. Sheat having changed ends, looked more threatening from the Pavilion End. Lunch was delayed with Hampshire 122 for 9 after 48 overs. Finally off the second ball of the 50th over, Lumsden’s 72-ball vigil ended when he was caught at point by substitute Martindale diving to his left off Sheat. The Kiwi had took his first wicket of the innings. Hampshire 123 all out.
Stone, in particular, had bowled out of his skin. The pitch was still playing relatively well right to the end. Notts fighting spirit had seen them through once more. Hampshire had fluffed a massive chance of a rare victory chasing a routine target. They now have lost seven matches this season and are currently 32 points behind Essex in eighth place. Relegation a near certainty.
Notts probably need to win at Hove and beat Yorkshire at Trent Bridge to realistically retain the title. The top order need to start scoring runs and Pennington, Stone and Patterson-White need help from the support bowlers. Everything is still to play for! MAG
10/09
Day 3
MATCH (AND SEASON) IN THE BALANCE AFTER A FRANTIC THURSDAY
On a crazy frantic day, all results are possible with Hampshire needing 117 runs to win with four second innings wickets standing. In total 19 wickets fell whilst 202 runs were scored off 69.1 overs.
The first passage of play was relatively sedate. Hampshire lost their last three first innings wickets whilst adding 37 runs in 16.4 overs.
Off the 10th delivery of the morning, Jack (3) was lbw to Pennington (Pavilion End); 273-8 in the 102nd over. The scoring rate was slow then suddenly Abbott pulled a short delivery from Sheat for six over backward square leg in the 107th over. Abbott (11) was lbw to Pennington (3-60); 289 for 9 in the 108th over. Sixteen balls remained for Hampshire to secure their second batting point but despite the field being spread, Lehmann put more on preserving the strike rather than chase 300. Hampshire 291 for 9 off 110 overs. Patterson-White (25-6-31-0) replaced Pennington for the 112th over. Stone came on for Sheat (3-78) for the 113th over. A four and then a single for Lehmann off Stone took Hampshire to 300 for 9 off 115 overs. Lumsden 4) pulled Stone to long leg for four. Two balls later, he lost his off stump to a Stone (3-67) delivery that kept low. Hampshire 304 all out off 116.4 overs with Lehmann unbeaten on 133 (off 247 balls, 14x4). Notts led by 73 runs. A useful lead and Notts had gained all three bowling points.
Notts were looking for a lead of excess of 350 when they went into bat for a second time. The morning sun had disappeared and the rest of the day was played under increasingly heavy clouds. What happened defied belief.
Abbott (Radcliffe Road End) and Jack opened the bowling. Slater, with a badly bruised hand, opened the batting with Hameed. The skipper looked a bag of nerves, fidgeting all over the crease. It came as no surprise when he edged Jack behind to Brown; 13 for 1 in the 6th over. Just before lunch, McCann played a very careless shot being caught on the backward point ropes by Lumsden off Jack; 17 for 2 in the 8th over. Notts 18 for 2 after 9 overs at lunch with Slater on 2 and Clarke on 0.
It was to get much worse. In the first over after lunch, Slater (2) lost his off stump. The third wicket for Jack; 22 for 3 off 10 overs. The in-form pair, Clarke and Haynes added 22 in 5.5 overs. Currie came on for the 15th over. Lumsden replaced Jack for the 16th over and with his fifth delivery removed Haynes (6) caught behind by Brown, 44 for 4 in the 16th over. Whether Haynes was beaten for pace was open to conjecture, the ball appearing not to do a lot.
In his next over, Lumsden had Hay (1) dismissed in identical fashion to Haynes; 46 for 5 in the 18th over. Patterson-White (1) top edged a half-hearted pull shot off Currie with Weatherley accepting the gift at third slip, 47 for 5 in the 19th over. Sheat hit Lumsden for a low six over mid-wicket in the 24th over. Sheat (16), on the drive, was bowled off stump by Currie to a ball that kept low, 75 for 7 in the 25th over. Stone (2), with no foot movement, had a dreadful waft at Lumsden, Brown taking his fourth catch of the innings and tenth of the match; 88 for 8 in the 28th over. Abbott returned for the 29th over and amazingly never got a wicket in the innings. Top scorer Clarke (37) skied Lumsden to extra cover where Gubbins took the catch, 97 for 9 after 30 overs. Pennington hit Abbott for six over mid-wicket in the 31st over to become the third Notts batsmen to double figures. Pennington (10) skied Lumsden to Organ at cover. Notts 104 all out off 31.5 overs. Giles 1 not out. Mr Extras with a useful 19. Debutant Lumsden, bowling with pace, finished with 5 for 36. Jack (3-17) had removed the out-of form top order and Currie finished with 2-21. In all honesty the batting was appalling on a wicket that seemed somnolent two hours earlier. Yes, the Hampshire bowlers had a new ball, but there was some very average strokes on display. By far the worst batting effort of the season. Tea was taken between the innings.
Hampshire needed what appeared to be a regulation 177 off 141 overs. Notts would have to bowl out of their skin to salvage the match against what appeared to be a nervous Hampshire batting line up. Stone (Radcliffe Road End) and Pennington shared the new ball.
In the 3rd over, Organ (3) pulled a short ball from Stone to Pennington at mid-on who took the catch at the second attempt falling on his back. Another dreadful shot; 8-1. Four balls later, a brief shower stopped play at 15:29 with Hampshire 8 for 1 off 3.1 overs with Gubbins on 5 and Albert on 0.
Play recommenced at 15:38. Off the very first delivery of the restart, Gubbins (5) was caught by Hay off Pennington , 8 for 2 in the 4th over. Gubbins clearly frustrated with his prod to what looked like a fairly innocuous delivery. Stone and Pennington now had the wind in their sails.
Four overs later, Albert (1), miscued a drive off Pennington and was caught low down by substitute Seecharan at point; 11 for 3 in the 8th over. Lehmann (2), the hero of the first innings, with his feet cemented to the ground, had a dreadful cross-batted waft outside off stump to Stone, Hay taking the catch, 11 for 4 in the 9th over. A dismissal down to the match situation.
The flinching Weatherley was caught behind by Hay off a rising delivery from Pennington, 27 for 5 in the 12th over. This dismissal was very much down to the bowler. Four balls later, Brown (8) was smartly caught by McCann at second slip off Stone, 27 for 6 in the 13th over. The ball was too fast for Brown. All of a sudden Notts had a chance of winning today.
Stone (7 2 15 3) and Pennington (7 3 18 3) who had generated plenty of pace and bounce needed a rest. The game dynamic changed once more with first change bowlers Sheat and Giles leaking 28 runs in 6.4 overs with unbeaten pair Mayes 21 and Currie 13 playing them with ease on what appeared to be still a pretty good deck. They have added 34. Mercifully from a Notts perspective bad light stopped play at 16;58 with Hampshire 61-6 off 20.4 overs. The forecasted rain soon followed.
It was hard to explain why so many wickets had fallen. There was a bit of uneven bounce and it was cloudy overhead but it did not explain some pretty average batting from both sides against good bowling. Notts though showed great spirit once more to come back from the dead.
Two years ago, Hampshire needed 169 to win in similar circumstances and slumped to 44-5 before Middleton and Fuller added an unbroken 40 before the close. They then knocked off the remaining 85 with ease the next morning with Hampshire winning by 5 wickets. Notts will be hoping that history does not repeat itself. A lot will depend on how Stone and Pennington bowl tomorrow. Both not out batsmen have first-class centuries to their name.
The whole of Notts’ championship challenge now rests on what happens next. Wall to wall sunshine all day is promised by the Met Office. MAG
09/09
Day 2
DAY OF TOIL FOR NOTTSOn an easing slow pitch, Hampshire only lost seven wickets whilst adding 255 to their overnight score. They closed on 267-7, 110 runs behind Notts’ first innings.
There was a dramatic start to the day. Organ fell to the first delivery caught behind by Hay off Stone, 12 for 1 in the 5th over. However, Gubbins and Albert added 61 in 17.5 overs to dampen the initial Notts excitement. Stone conceded 11 off 11th over - offside boundaries to both batsmen. Sheat replaced Pennington for the 12th over and conceded nine off his opening over. Pennington switched ends to replace Stone from the Radcliffe Road End for the 15th over. After bowling four overs for 14 Sheat was replaced by Giles for the 20th over – who was hit for two boundaries by Gubbins in his initial over.
Suddenly two wickets fell in four balls. Albert (31) was lbw to a well-pitched up delivery from Giles, 73 for 2 off 22 overs. Then Gubbins (35) was lbw to Pennington, 73 for 3 in the 23rd over. Once again, Notts hopes’ were dampened by a 4th wicket partnership of 68 between Lehmann and Weatherley. The early morning sunshine had now vanished and the rest of the day was played in cool cloudy conditions.
Sheat replaced Pennington for the 25th over. Lehmann, who scored an unbeaten 102 against Notts at Southampton in May, looked in fine form, finding the ropes twice in Sheat’s second over of his second spell. Three overs later, Lehmann hit Giles for successive boundaries. Hampshire 114 for 3 off 31 overs at lunch with Lehmann on 33 and Weatherley on 8.
Giles and Stone were bowling after lunch and were toiling on a wicket which had lost a lot of pace compared to 24 hours earlier. Patterson-White replaced Giles for the 40th over and bowled unchanged from the Pavilion End in a 21 over spell. Weatherley (25) was lbw without playing a shot to Stone, 141 for 4 in the 41st over. Pennington replaced Stone for the 43rd over. With Patterson-White tying an end down, Sheat came back from the Radcliffe Road End for the 53rd over. With his fifth ball, Brown (14) made a hash of a shot outside off stump and was caught by Patterson-White at first slip, Sheat's first wicket at Trent Bridge. Hampshire 159 for 5 in the 53rd over. Lehmann got to his 50 off 88 balls with a single off Sheat in the 55th over. Mayes (1) attempting a pull shot was caught behind by Hay off his Canterbury compatriot Sheat, 165 for 6 in the 57th over. Notts appeared to be well on top. Currie joined Lehmann at the crease and they stayed together for 38.3 overs whilst adding 97 for the 7th wicket in a patient fashion. Notts’ badly missed O’Neill and Hutton as they struggled to break the stand.
Stone replaced Sheat for the 63rd over. Hampshire 190 for 6 after 68 overs at tea with Lehmann on 72 and Currie on 5.
Giles replaced Stone for the 70th over but only bowled three overs and was replaced by McCann. The new ball was taken by Stone and Pennington with Hampshire 216 for 6 off 80 overs and hopes were high for Notts to make another incision. Pennington looked the more dangerous of the two, beating Lehmann on a number of occasions but never finding the edge. A straight driven four by Lehmann off Stone took him to 100 off 160 balls in the 85th over. Sheat replaced Stone for the 89th over with Hampshire reaching 250 via a single for Currie. They had achieved only their fourth batting point of the season. Giles came back for the 94th over. Currie (35 off 143 balls, 4x4) lost his off stump to a pitched-up ball by Sheat (3-61), 262 for 7 in the 95th over. Lehmann (115* off 195 balls, 12x4) and Jack (2*) survived the remaining 31 balls of the day. Patterson-White (22-5-29-0) bowled the last over of the day. Hampshire 267-7 off 100 overs at the close.
Ignore the keyboard warriors. The match and the championship has still a long way to run. The first objective is to obtain two wickets in the first 10 overs of tomorrow’s morning session. COME ON NOTTS! MAG
08/09
Day 1
CLARKE AND PATTERSON-WHITE FORGE NOTTS RECOVERY
but Hants will rew missed chances
Notts had a good first day at an autumnal Trent Bridge recovering from 20 for 3 to register 377 all out. Clarke and Patterson-White lead the way with support from Haynes and debutant Mitchell Hay. Hampshire closed on 12 for 0 off 4 overs.
Hampshire won the toss and elected to bowl on a green wicket on the Hound Road side of the square. Hameed had lost his fifth championship toss in as row. Notts gave a debut to New Zealand international keeper Hay who has replaced Kyle Verreynne. Giles remained in the team with Hutton unavailable due to his quad injury sustained against Leicestershire.
Batting proved tricky first thing in cloudy conditions on a helpful surface.
Abbott (Pavilion End) and Jack opened the bowling. In the 4th over, Jack bowled a beamer to Slater which hit him straight on the arm – he continued after a lengthy stoppage for treatment. In the following over, Hameed (6) edged Abbott into Brown's gloves, 18 for 1 in the 5th over. Currie replaced Jack for the 6th over. Abbott removed McCann (1). Attempting a drive the left-hander got a thin edge to Brown; 20 for 2 after 7 overs. Slater (8) mistimed a pull shot off Currie and was caught by keeper Brown running towards square leg, 20 for 3 in the 8th over. Notts in real trouble.
In-form pair Clarke and Haynes added 78 for the 4th wicket in 15.1 overs as Notts fought back. Haynes found the ropes twice in the 10th over bowled by Currie.
Jack replaced Abbott for the 15th over, Haynes hitting him for two successive fours. The circumspect Clarke, who opened his innings with 21 dot balls, hit Currie for four through wide third man in the 16th over. Notts got to 50 in the 17th over via a single by Haynes off Jack. Seventeen-year-old right armer Lumsden came on for the 18th over and proved erratic. He bowled a long hop to Haynes with his first delivery which went for 4 through square leg and then bowled a wide legside delivery which went for 5 wides, 10 plus a bye off his opening over. Lumsden conceded 13 off his second over. Haynes pulled the youngster for four through square leg. Two singles followed with the 50 partnership between Clarke and Haynes achieved in 71 balls in the 20th over. Off the last ball of the over, Haynes edged him for six over the slips. In the 22nd over, Haynes hooked Lumsden for six over long leg and then hit him for four through a similar position – another 13 off the over. Lumsden 3-0-36-0 was retired to the outfield. Abbott returned for the 23rd over and immediately had Clarke dropped on 21 by Brown diving low to his right. A very expensive miss. But five balls later Abbott had Haynes (48) lbw, 98 for 4 after 23 overs. Currie was recalled for the 24th over. The 100 was achieved in the 25th over via a two from Clarke off Abbott. Notts 106 for 4 off 26 overs at lunch with Clarke on 29 and Hay on 0. Hampshire had dominated the first hour but the Notts fightback was aided by wayward bowling from the Hampshire support bowling.
Clarke and Hay were the stars of the middle session adding 136 in 34.4 overs for the 5th wicket. The tall 26-year-old Kiwi right-hander impressed supporting Clarke well with excellent running between the wickets.
Abbott and Currie bowled straight after lunch. Jack replaced Abbott for the 35th over. The scoring rate had slowed. But then Lumsden returned for the 38th over and went for eight. Lumsden conceded 10 in the 40th over - Clarke reached 50 off 98 balls with an on driven four and a straight four by Clarke later in the over brought up the 50 partnership with Hay off 103 balls. Organ came on for the 42nd over. Lumsden switched to the Pavilion End for the following over but still proved expensive – another 8 runs to the total. Abbott came back for the 51st over with the 100-partnership coming up in 166 balls with a legside four by Clarke – eight off the over. Hay was dropped on 29 by Albert diving to his right at second slip off Abbott in the 53rd over. Hay hit Organ for 6 over long off, nine off the 55th over. Jack replaced Organ for the 56th over and went for 11 – two successive boundaries for Hay. Next over, Abbott was replaced by Currie. Hay (49) edged a short delivery from Jack to Brown; 234 for 5 in the 58th over. Clarke reached his fourth 100 of 2026 off 159 balls with a four through point off Currie; 10 off the 59th over. In Currie’s next over, Clarke (105 off 166 balls, 13x4) edged to Brown who took his fifth catch of the innings; 249 for 6 in the 61st over. Patterson-White hit Jack through point for four to bring up the Notts 250. He then whacked Jack for four through mid-wicket. Organ came back for the last over before tea. Notts 262 for 6 off 64 overs with Patterson-White on 18 and Sheat on 3.
Sheat (5) was lbw to Abbott; 265 for 7 in the 67th over. Currie replaced Abbott in the 71st over. Patterson-White hit Organ for six over mid-wicket; eight off the 72nd over. Lumsden came back in the 75th over. A four through backward point by Patterson-White off Organ saw Notts to 300 in the 78th over. Stone (17) was caught behind off a brisk and bouncy delivery from the expensive Lumsden (12-0-80-1); 309 for 8 in the 79th over.
Patterson-White and Pennington added 47 in 7 overs in an entertaining ninth wicket partnership. Patterson-White got to 50 off 57 balls with a four through extra cover off Organ in the 80th over. The new ball was taken with Notts 313 for 8 off 80 overs. Pennington was dropped on 4 by Lehmann at slip off Abbott. Patterson-White then smashed Abbott for six over mid-wicket; 13 off the 81st over. Patterson-White hit Currie for six and four through square leg; 14 off the 84th over. Pennington hit three fours off Abbott in the 85th over, which went for a further 13, with Notts passing 350. Pennington (20) was caught at 2nd slip by Albert off Currie; 356 for 9 in the 86th over. The field was now spread far and wide for Patterson-White. But this did not stop the left-hander who hit Jack for six over long leg plus another two fours; 14 off the 89th over. Patterson-White (92 off 91 balls, 10x4, 4x6) mistimed a legside hit off Currie and the bowler took the catch running towards square leg. An excellent knock for the on fire left hander. Notts 377 all out off 89.4 overs with Giles 1 not out. Currie 4 for 61 and Abbott 4 for 82. The support bowling was poor. Hampshire looked like a bottom of the table team allowing Notts to score an over par score aided by some pretty average catching.
Hampshire had 4 overs to bat with Stone and Pennington sharing the new ball. Organ (6*) and Gubbins (6*) survived the examination pretty comfortably on a wicket which is already appearing to be ease.
The major plus point though was the speed that Notts scored their runs which gives them plenty of time to bowl Hampshire out twice. MAG
07/09
The Notts squad for the must win encounter with Hampshire:
| Matches | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 50 | 100 |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 38 | 38.00 | 0 | 0 |
| Balls | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | BB | Ave | Ct | St |
| 282 | 7 | 142 | 3 | 2-68 | 47.33 | 2 | 0 |
| Matches | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 50 | 100 |
| 6 | 6 | 1 | 44 | 30 | 8.80 | 0 | 0 |
| Balls | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | BB | Ave | Ct | St |
| 1097 | 37 | 571 | 29 | 6-44 | 19.68 | 2 | 0 |
07/09
After last week's benign wicket we have to hope that words have been had with the groundstaff and that the whole team have come-up with a strategy. There were result wickets everywhere else up and down the country, so you can't blame the soporific draw against Leicester solely on the loss of a day's play to the weather; 5 or 6 days would have necessary to get a result on that deck!
Whereas Leicester played for a draw from the start of play on the second morning, Hampshire are in such dire straits that only wins will suffice for the rest of their season, therefore we'll have two sides both being positive, hopefully.
What Notts squad appears tomorrow, will be dependent on whose left standing.
83 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteWILL THE WEATHER decide the County Championship winner?
83,NOTOUT
ReplyDeleteShaky start by Notts today but the lower lads knuckled down and got us to a pretty reasonable total at the end of the day . Notts nowadays seem to bat down to No 11 - it makes all the difference .Some fine determined batting today from our lower order
83,NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteAlmost the end of day 2 and Notts are really up against it . Difficult to see them winning this match from this position
Somerset and Warwickshire both look home and dry .
Still two games to go and there will be plenty of points available for Notts get back on top .
At least Notts have informed batsmen who can get reasonably big scores on the board . That gives the bowlers a chance but no doubt will be feeling pretty jaded after 4 day games being played close together
83,NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteOh dear
At 2pm today Notts were 47-6 and top scorer was EXTRAS at 15 !
Can Clarke somehow work his magic yet again and set Hampshire a target that the Notts bowlers can be reasonably happy with ?
I'm curious to know how Slater was allowed to bat considering he's not fielded?
ReplyDeletePresumably the officials were told it was an external impact injury from the Jack beamer on Day 1 so he can bat in his normal position, nothing to do with his ongoing hamstring injury.
DeleteAnother fabulous effort by Messrs Stone and Pennington, where would we be without them.Can we pull off a classic win tomorrow?
ReplyDeleteColin
83 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteGreat match report for day 3 - thanks .
A very interesting day 4 in prospect with an excellent weather forecast.
I fancy Notts to pull off a win - which seemed highly unlikely at one stage .
Still everything to play for
Retaining the title is still well on the cards
83,NOTOUT
ReplyDeleteA fascinating match full of incident and drama . No one could have written that script.Notts going into the final 8 days cricket full of confidence
Surely super hero Stone , who is sore and tired cannot play in both the final two games? Perhaps best to save him for the very last game?