Nottinghamshire CCC - The return of DaveK

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Yorkshire

Squad News:



A win will now guarantee us qualification. So, the only change is Wessels in for Read, who needs a rest.

Toss:
Nottinghamshire win the toss and bowl first.

Yorkshire Innings:
Hmm… well. That was easy. Yorkshire just crumbled. Great bowling from Butler and Broad at the start before Shahzad snuffed out any chance of a comeback.

Notts Innings:
We knocked the runs off with ease. The win means barring a massive defeat coupled with a massive win for Yorkshire, we should be safe.



Batting Award:
D Hussey – showed his usual attacking intent

Bowling Award:
Everyone – hard to give it to one man when all performed so well.

Points:
Notts 2, Yorks 0

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Lancashire

Squad News:



Broad and Swann go back to the Ashes battle, so Fletcher and White come in for this last match. Hales is also given a break, Hammett replacing him, and taking the gloves from Wessels

Toss:
Notts win the toss and bowl first

Lancashire Innings:
For a while, it looked as if we were going to struggle. Mullaney and Butler pulled it back for us though, and we ended up with a respectable target for us to chase. At this point, 2nd place Durham looked in a good position, and 3rd place Yorkshire looked set to win, chasing a small total.

Notts Innings:
We didn’t have as many problems as I expected in chasing the total. Lumb and Wessels looked good at the top of the order, and Hammett got some useful runs on debut. A good finish to the group for us.



Batting Award:
R Wessels – a strong half century

Bowling Award:
Mullaney – took key wickets when all hope looked lost

Points:
Notts 2, Lancs 0

[DaveK93]

T20 QUARTER FINAL DRAW



An interesting draw, but we get home advantage, so I will be able to dictate the pitch conditions depending on the team available. I can see us getting to the finals day.

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Somerset

Squad News:



McGregor, Ramshaw, Adams, Gurney and Read all return for the match at Taunton

Toss:
Nottinghamshire win the toss and bat first

Day 1:
Once again, we were bowled out on day 1. A little disappointing perhaps, but getting both Somerset openers out did make up for it a little bit.

Day 2:
We bowled well out of the blocks, bowling Somerset out very quickly. A great bowling performance, we are looking much better.
We then struggled from the start, but Read and Mullaney pulled it back, and we finished over 300 ahead at the close.

Day 3:
We declared at the lunch break, leaving Somerset 414 to win the match, with plenty of time to get to it. Should be a decent finish to the game.
Somerset are staring down the barrels of defeat, as they were 8 down at the close. Good bowling by Adams and Fletcher kept limiting the batsmen, after what was a decent start by Tresco and Elgar.

Day 4:
It was all over very quickly, Fletcher and Adams picked up a wicket each. Comfortable win.



Batting Award:
Chris Read – top scored in each innings

Bowling Award:
Luke Fletcher – 4 wickets in each innings, great performance from the local lad

Points:
Notts 21, Somerset 4

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Essex

Squad News:



For this quarter final clash, we make a couple of changes. Butler and Lumb return, McGregor and Adams drop out.

Toss:
Essex win the toss and bat first on a seamer friendly pitch

Essex Innings:
Essex started well, but they didn’t really capitalise, after some great bowling from Butler and Shahzad saw them falter. Essex fell well short of the target they were set to get, and it gives us a chance.

Notts Innings:
We really didn’t start well at all, losing 4 quick wickets. Fortunately, Hussey and Read steadied the ship, and saw us safely through.



Batting Award:
David Hussey - scored at a quicker run-rate than Read

Bowling Award:
Shahzad – Great bowling, really stalled Essex

SF Draw:



We get Surrey. A difficult match, but we look forward to the challenge none-the-less.

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Northamptonshire

Squad News:



Adams for Butler is the only change, as we look to press on in the one day format

Toss:
Northants won the toss and chose to bat first

Northants Innings:
Northants never really got going in the end, which was in part down to a great bowling performance by Andre Adams. He conceded 1 run in his first 4 overs, which completely destroyed the run rate. Shahzad and Mullaney picked up wickets, and Northants posted a very under-par total.

Notts Innings:
No problem for Notts, as we completed a comfortable victory. Lumb was the only man out, as we coasted to the total, boosting our run-rate in the process.



Batting Award:
Alex Hales – another cool headed performance at the top of the order

Bowling Award:
Andre Adams – A great first spell of 4-3-1-0 crippled the Northants innings

Points:
Notts 2, Northants 0

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Worcestershire

Squad News:



We keep faith with the same team as we push for a semi-final spot.

Toss:
Notts won the toss and chose to bat.

Notts Innings:
Runs aplenty for Notts, who hit their highest total of the season so far. Lumb and Hales got us off to a good start, but Taylor was the real destructor, hitting his 85 from just 43. There was also a half century from Mullaney later in the innings, as we pushed for our highest OD total, but we lost wickets regularly at the end and finished 13 short.

Worcs Innings:
Worcs started well, but when faced with a total such as ours they had no chance. Once again, Adams was economical, stifling the chase, and this time Mullaney joined him. He’s showing real promise in the last few games, and with Adams and Franks retiring over the next couple of seasons, if I can’t get an international standard bowler in, then Mullaney will need to step up.



Batting Award:
James Taylor – A brutal innings from the young batsman

Bowling Award:
Steven Mullaney – another good performance from the young all-rounder

Points:
Notts 2, Worcs 0

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Sussex

Squad News:



We may have the England lads back, but I keep faith with the team that battered Worcestershire

Toss:
Sussex win the toss and decide to bat first.

Sussex Innings:
The bowlers struggled to limit the Sussex charge as they put together a good total. All the batsmen got starts, and we never looked like causing any major problems

Notts Innings:
We let the run rate get too far ahead of us, and we never really recovered. Had it not been for Shahzad and Adams lashing out at the end, we would have been a lot worse off. The result means we are unlikely to qualify for the semi-finals, and puts an end to the treble this season.



Batting Award:
James Taylor – the only batsman that came close to keeping up with the run rate

Bowling Award:
Steven Mullaney – just about gets it for the least expensive wicket taker

Points:
Notts 0, Sussex 2

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Surrey

Squad News:



Time for our semi-final! Lots of changes for this, as Broad, Butler, Swann and Wessels all come back into the squad. Adams, Mullaney, Ramshaw, and Gurney all miss out.

Toss:
Surrey win the toss and bat first

Surrey Innings:
Surrey started well, after an early wicket, but crumbled at the business end of the innings. Pietersen and Scollay did well, but some good bowling by Butler saw three fall in one over, ably supported by Luke Fletcher.

Nottinghamshire Innings:
We batted well off the start, Lumb and Hales knocking the runs off with ease. Taylor continued it when Lumb fell, but we lost the next 4 wickets in quick succession in a mini batting crisis, but Broad and Read saw us home at the end. We’re through to the final!



Batting Award:
Alex Hales – led the charge well, and kept the innings ticking over at a good pace.

Bowling Award:
Ian Butler – 4 wickets to halt Surrey, instrumental in giving us a achievable total.

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Gloucestershire

Squad News:



So we play Gloucestershire in the final after they beat Warwickshire by 25 runs. Should be an exciting contest. I keep faith in the semi-final winning team.

Toss:
In this crucial toss Gloucestershire win the toss and bat first in very cloudy conditions.

Gloucs Innings:
Gloucs did very well to reach 164 in poor conditions. Gidman caused our bowlers no end of problems, and was ably supported by Richards and Cockbain who hit out early at the start of the innings. Once again though, Butler was at the thick of it, keeping the run rate down, and a run out on the last ball saw Gloucs all out.

Notts Innings:
We have a lot to thanks Alex Hales and Ajmal Shahzad for. They put on a record 8th wicket partnership for us after the batsmen failed, and saw us home to win the total. Alex Hales has arguably been one of our best T20 players, and Shahzad has also proved his worth, and I would imagine they will be key in campaigns to come.



Batting Award:
Alex Hales – The King of Finals Day. One of the best T20 batsmen on the circuit this season.

Bowling Award:
Ian Butler – yet again, the Kiwi veteran gets us out of a tough position. Will definitely be looking at bringing him back next season.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE WIN THE T20 CUP

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Yorkshire

Squad News:



In the aftermath of our T20 win, we have a CCD1 match against Yorkshire. For this, we are missing the England lads, Broad and Swann, so Mullaney, Adams, Patel, McGregor and Gurney all return.

Toss:
Yorkshire win the toss and bowl first.

Day 1:
Only 43 overs were possible today, as Notts reached 163-3. We lost Taylor just before the close though, so it’s up to Patel and Hussey to accelerate the run rate at the start of Day 2.

Day 2:
David Hussey scored another quick century as we managed to get maximum batting points, with contributions from Mullaney, Shahzad and Gurney.
We then capitalised on the few overs left in the day, as Fletcher and Adams removed both Gale and Balance to leave Yorkshire on 19-2.

Day 3:
A great bowling performance by Adams saw him get 7-61, as Yorkshire had the follow on enforced upon them. Only Bairstow and Jaques provided any resistance, and we are in a commanding position, after the rain affected first day. Notts lead by 159 after the first innings.
Yorkshire reached 47-0 at the close.

Day 4:
Bresnan and Sayers frustrated the bowlers as we couldn’t quite make the breakthrough. The match finishes as a draw, as we are left pondering what would have happened had it not rained.



Batting Award:
David Hussey – Another century for the veteran Aussie.

Bowling Award:
Andre Adams – A devastating spell for Adams gave us a good chance of winning.

Points:
Notts 11, Yorks 8

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Kent

Squad News:



Only one change for the dead rubber, as Murray replaces Hussey

Toss:
Kent win the toss and bat first

Kent Innings:
Constant Kent wickets meant that they never really got going, and apart from a quick knock from Coles late in the innings, they posted a below-par total.

Notts Innings:
Our innings was a complete contrast to Kent’s, as we knocked the runs off with ease. The two stars of the future, Hales and Taylor secured the points with ease, in our last OD match of the season.



Batting Award:
Taylor – a superb century

Bowling Award:
A Shahzad – very economical, and got two key wickets

Points:
Notts 2, Kent 0
Note:
We missed out on the semis by 0.05 on the run rate. Not amused.

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Warwickshire

Squad News:



James Taylor’s good form is rewarded with an England call up, so Burridge replaces him. Ramshaw comes in for Gurney as well.

Toss:
Warwicks win the toss and bat first.

Day 1:
Warwicks finished on 321-9 in an even day. Rain coming up though, so this could be enough later on.

Day 2:
Warwickshire were finally bowled out for 332, as we then finished on 94-2. We lost a lot of time to rain though, increasing the likelihood of a draw.

Day 3:
Notts finish just short of another batting point on 348, but the innings has probably consigned this game to a draws. Warwicks 47/0 at the close.

Day 4:
A bore draw in the end. Warwicks batted us out the game, and while we gave it a try, we just couldn’t manage it this time.



Batting Award:
Chris Read – stuck around with the tailenders in the first innings to get us a couple more points

Bowling Award:
Andre Adams – contributed to the first innings with some vital wickets.

Points:
Warwicks 9, Notts 9

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Middlesex

Squad News:



Carter for Mullaney is the only change as we try to bolster the bowling line up.

Toss:
Middlesex win the toss and bat

Day 1:
Again, an even first day as Middlesex got 324/8. Notts suffered a blow though as Shahzad is out of the match with an injury.

Day 2:
Yet again, my youth players failed with the bat, as we relied on a great partnership between Carter and Read at the end to bring us within 47 runs of Middlesex.
We then got rid of London before the close as Middlesex finished on 16/1.

Day 3:
Robson gets a double century as our bowling suffered without Shahzad. They declared leaving us 423 to win with a temperamental batting line up. I’m not confident.
We got to 37 at the close.

Day 4:
We ended up holding until the close, with some good batting for Murray and Burridge. A creditable draw suffering with the ball.



Batting Award:
Andy Carter – great performance with the bat to save some face in the first innings.

Bowling Award:
Samit Patel – A useful 5for in the first innings

Points:
Middx 8, Notts 8

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Durham

Squad News:



Wholesale changes for Notts, who bring back Wessels, Lumb, Cowan, Taylor, Swann and Broad.

Toss:
Nottinghamshire win the toss and bat first

Day 1:
Notts hold the advantage after day 1, having scored 402/7. Some great batting by Taylor and Read put us in a great position and we need to build on this and get over 500.

Day 2:
Durham are down at 258/7 at the close of play, chasing the follow on total. Stokes helped Durham along but regular wickets leaves Notts in the driving seat.

Day 3:
Action packed day saw us all out for 148, trying to force the match. Durham were then 68/2 at the close, but we have lost Broad to injury, so we could have issues. The pitch is taking spin though, so Swann and Patel will be key on this last day. A win would give us the lead going into the last day of CCD1 matches, so it’s all to play for.

Day 4:
Another close finish. The spinners were key, but the main man was Adams, as he kept taking wickets to close the match out. Bit tense towards the end, but we made it, and we now have a 20 point lead over Sussex, with one game to play.



Batting Award:
James Taylor – Massive century started the match off well

Bowling Award:
Andre Adams – Always a dangerous bowler, as consistent as ever.

Points:
Notts 24, Durham 6