Nottinghamshire CCC - The return of DaveK

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Gloucestershire

Squad News:



Fletcher and Kerrigan are back for this, as the pitch looks like it could cause problems. Fuller will be given a chance in the CCD1 match, after missing out against his old club.

Toss:
Notts win the toss and bowl first

Day 1:
The day is in the balance after some expensive bowling. Jefferson performed well, as did Fletcher, but everyone else was expensive. Kerrigan has been particularly appalling, he really needs to improve next season, I wanted him as Swann’s long term replacement. Gloucs finished on 359-8, a couple of quick wickets would be nice.

Day 2:
We finished on 308-9, but we should have been in a better position. We lost 5 wicket in the last session, which hampered our progress. Before that, there were good performances from both Burridge and Thakor, after Jefferson picked up the last two Gloucs wickets

Day 3:
After a solid partnership of over 70 between Patel and Donald got us an extra batting point, we set about trying to remove Gloucs for a low total. We got them for 253 in the final over of the day. This means we have a total of 271 to win on the final day’s play.

Day 4:
We couldn’t do it. Losing 3 wickets at the start for 16 didn’t help though. I’m not best pleased with our performance.



Batting Award:
Roy Burridge – Good century in the first innings

Bowling Award:
Paul Jefferson – Good performance from the rookie

Points:
Notts 7, Gloucs 23

[DaveK93]

T20 Quarter Finals:
Somerset vs Glamorgan
Durham vs Middlesex
Essex vs Warwickshire
Nottinghamshire vs Sussex

Arguably, the tie of the round is Nottinghamshire vs Sussex. Sussex are somewhat of a bogey team for me on ICC in the T20 format, and have been across the last 2-3 editions. Hopefully they won’t be a problem this time.

My predicted semi-finalists:
Somerset
Durham
Essex
Notts

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Lancashire

Squad News:



Shahzad replaces the England bound Broad in the only change

Toss:
Lancs win the toss and bat first

Lancs Innings:
Paul Jefferson showed his credentials again, in an impressive performance. Wickets for the other bowlers as well saw a smaller Lancashire total, but a half century from Croft could cost us.

Notts Innings:
The aforementioned half century did cost us as we finished up 5 runs short. A little gutted perhaps, but we weren’t too bad. Burridge had a promising knock, and a few more runs for Taylor, so there were decent signs in the last group game. We finish top of the group on NRR, so I’m fairly happy.



Batting Award:
Roy Burridge – A promising knock, will hopefully show a change in form

Bowling Award:
Paul Jefferson – A great 4 overs from the youngster

Points:
Notts 0, Lancs 2

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Yorkshire

Squad News:



No changes, although it is worth noting that Matt Coles is out for five weeks. He wasn’t likely to be in the team on recent form, but it is still a major blow. It’ll be up to the ex-Gloucs bowlers, Fuller and Payne, and Ajmal Shahzad to battle it out for his spot over the five weeks. With all their contracts expiring this summer, the pressure is on.

Toss:
Yorkshire win the toss and bat first

Yorks Innings:
The Yorkshire batsmen got after our bowlers, and apart for Patel, everyone was expensive. There isn’t much to say really, we were clobbered all over the place.

Notts Innings:
We tried. We couldn’t quite manage this time though. Hales and Taylor scored quickly, but the others struggled, and we fell to defeat. A win the last match should confirm first in the group though.



Batting Award:
Alex Hales – Set us off at a quick rate, no-one could match it though

Bowling Award:
Samit Patel – Great economy rate in comparison to the other bowlers

Points:
Yorks 2, Notts 0

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Derbyshire

Squad News:



Broad, Jefferson and Hollins are back, and all straight into the squad.Burridge also returns to the line-up as well.

Toss:
Derbys win the toss and bowl first

Notts Innings:
We started well this time, and Hales and Burridge kept the scoring at a high rate. They departed, but there were contributions from the rest of the order, and we put together a high score.

Derbys Innings:
Jefferson and Donald were expensive, but they took 7 wickets between them, Donald getting 5. From there it is easy to finish, and Patel picked up a couple of easy wickets. An easier win than it looked.



Batting Award:
Alex Hales – Good start from the opener after a recent slump in form

Bowling Award:
Justin Donald – His 1st career 5fer, he’s making progress

Points:
Notts 2, Derbys 0

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Yorkshire

Squad News:



Porterfield for Follett in the only change

Toss:
Yorks win the toss and bat first

Yorks Innings:
Once again Coles took some major punishment, but the rest of the bowlers performed, and got wickets. It’s chaseable,but we’ll have a fight on our hands here.

Notts Innings:
We were 8-3 at one point, the top 3 all falling.Once again it was up to Taylor to stop the rot, supported by Ramshaw and Mullaney. We may have won, but our batting failures have been shocking.



Batting Award:
James Taylor – Another brutal innings

Bowling Award:
S Mullaney – his two wickets started the ball rolling for us

Points:
Notts 2, Yorks 0

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Durham

Squad News:



Follett comes into the batting line-up, in the only change for this T20 match

Toss:
Notts win the toss and bowl

Durham Innings:
Durham batted fairly well, and at 157-5, they’ve probably done enough. Matt Coles took some major stick from the batsmen, and it doesn’t look good, especially on a seaming pitch.

Notts Innings:
That was shocking. We were 28-6 at one point, Boult and Rushworth tearing us apart. Taylor and Patel provided a little resistance, but we never looked like getting to the total.



Batting Award:
James Taylor – A good innings in the face of adversity

Bowling Award:
L Fletcher – Useful couple of wickets

Points:
Durham 2, Notts 0

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Essex

Squad News:



Broad is back from injury, and straight back into the England squad. Hollins also rejoins the squad, alongside Jefferson. Donald gets his FC debut, and McGregor returns after a long absence.

Toss:
Essex win the toss and bat first

Day 1:
An even first day saw Essex finish on 321-6. We got wickets at regular intervals, but we needed more from our bowlers on this pitch. Donald did well to get 2-60 though, and while he hasn’t hit the heady heights that Jefferson did at this point, he’s made a good enough to his Outlaws career.

Day 2:
After Coles removed the remaining four wickets with little over 50 added, we went into bat. We immediately threw it all away at the start, and at one point, we were struggling at 103-4. Fortunately McGregor, ably assisted by Bates and Mullaney, repaired the innings, and got his century before falling lbw to Topley. Mullaney continued the good work though, and at 276-7, I’m much more content than I was previously.

Day 3:
After our batsmen did pretty much nothing, it was our bowlers turn to do just that. So they did. Apart from some late wickets, we toiled in the field. An overnight declaration was called, and we need 387 to win this.

Day 4:
Our batsmen were appalling, and we desperately tried to fail. Fortunately Patel and Coles stuck around for a session and a half to claim an unlikely draw.



Batting Award:
S Patel – 30 off 172, kept the innings going

Bowling Award:
Matt Coles – Impressive bowling in the first innings

Points:
Essex 10, Notts 8

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Leicestershire

Squad News:



Back with the T20 game then. Wallis and Donald will both make debuts, and there are recalls for Patel and Hammett. I’m definitely in the market for a new keeper at the end of the season.

Toss:
Leics win the toss and bat first

Leics Innings:
Donald was given the new ball, and did fairly well, getting two wickets on debut. The rest of our bowling wasn’t so good though. Leicestershire put a great total together, and we have a real fight on our hands now.

Notts Innings:
We started really brightly, and Hollins and Hales got us to 98-0 after 10. We then had a minor collapse. Taylor and Mullaney stopped the rot though, with some brutal hitting, and we squeezed home on the last ball, our deep batting line-up saving us.



Batting Award:
Glenn Hollins – Led well from the front

Bowling Award:
J Donald – Only guy to get two wickets, a good performance on debut

Points:
Notts 2, Leics 0

[DaveK93]

Youth Players:
Before we get to our next match, a word on our newbies for the rest of the season.

Nick Wallis:
Nick Wallis is a 19 year old middle order batsman. Averaging around 35 from 20 2nd team matches, he looks more like he would be suited for the longer format of the game. However, he will more than likely make his bow in the shortest format. Expect to see him in and around the squad over the next few years.

Justin Donald:
Slower than the famous Alan, Justin Donald is a right medium fast bowler. The 21 year old averages around 29 for the 2nd team, but has an economy rate similar to that of Jefferson when he joined. He will get his chance this year, especially if Paul Jefferson becomes an England fixture. A cheaper option than the aging bowlers we have as well, his chances of getting a contract are very good.

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Somerset

Squad News:



Two changes for this, Kerrigan and Mullaney come in for Patel and Shahzad

Toss:
Somerset win the toss and bat first

Day 1:
Somerset nearly batted us out the game. With Sehwag and Hildreth both getting centuries, we looked down and out. However, the new ball swung it for us, and they lost their last 6 wickets for 40 runs. We got to 21-0 at the close

Day 2:
We didn’t really capitalise, and in the end 252 was a good total for us. We disappointed really, and the match is now too far beyond our control. I think some reworking of the batting line up may be needed for our next 4 day match.

We tried to make up for our dismal showing with our bowling, and took 4 key wickets to keep Somerset at 77-4. Mullaney has started to show signs of what he is capable of now, he just needs to find some consistency.

Day 3:
It was an up and down day for us. We dropped 3 catches before we got our first wicket in the morning session, and then they tumbled. Despite some dogged resistance from George Dockrell, we toppled Somerset for 258. This left us with a target of 370 and a day and a half to go.

Things started badly for us though, as we lost Burridge and Wessels for nothing much at all. Expect to see them in a second XI match near you soon. Fortunately Hales and Ramshaw, who was batting like a man possessed, steadied the ship. Hales departed for 60, but that brought in James Taylor, and he scored a half century as we closed the day on 206-3, Ramshaw on 77*. 164 to win, this is anyone’s game.

Day 4:
We saw off the start of the day with no major problems, then Ramshaw was caught behind for 85. Hollins came in and formed a partnership, but we then lost Taylor as well, with just over 90 runs to go. Mullaney recognised the situation though and played a good knock of 33, allowing Hollins to do the leg work. Mullaney fell with 33 to go, but Swann held it together, and we wrapped up the win shortly after tea.



Batting Award:
Tom Ramshaw – great patience in the second innings

Bowling Award:
Matt Coles – 7 wickets for the match, all came at vital times

Points:
Somerset 7, Notts 20

Aside:
Paul Jefferson makes his England bow against the Aussies. Good lad!

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Durham

Squad News:



One enforced change, as Paul Jefferson is selected to take part in the Ashes. About time really, he’s been my best bowler for a while. Graeme Swann comes in to replace him.

Toss:
Durham win the toss and bat first

Durham Innings:
We bowled fairly well, and apart from Coles, the bowlers were inexpensive. With regular wickets, it looks winnable.

Notts Innings:
Well… oh dear. We couldn’t handle Boult, and despite Ramshaw’s best efforts, we failed miserably.



Batting Award:
Tom Ramshaw – Tried his best

Bowling Award:
Luke Fletcher – Did well opening the bowling

Points:
Notts 0, Durham 2

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Derbyshire

Squad News:



No change again, but some improvement in the batting would be nice

Toss:
Notts win the toss and bowl

Derbys Innings:
Jefferson was on top form again, getting 4 wickets at the start of the innings. Coles struggled again though, and was targeted by the batsmen. Fletcher, Shahzad and Patel all went for less than 6 an over though, and we are up against a very chaseable total

Notts Innings:
We started well, but Wessels and Burridge struggled again. After we lost Hales, we lost our way a bit, but Hollins kept it together, and saw us home, albeit closer than we would have liked.



Batting Award:
Glenn Hollins – Kept the innings together

Bowling Award:
Paul Jefferson – Another great spell from the youngster

Points:
Notts 2, Derbys 0

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Lancashire

Squad News:



No change to a winning formula

Toss:
Notts win the toss and bat first

Notts Innings:
We had an uncharacteristically poor start, hampered further by the removal of Hales for only 11. At one point, we were 79-5, but Patel and Taylor pulled it out the bag. A particular highlight was watching Taylor send Anderson for consecutive sixes. After his poor season last year in the T20, he looks to be back on song.

Lancs Innings:
Jefferson got us off to a cracking start, only conceding 15 from his first 3, getting 2 wickets in the process. Coles was slightly more expensive, but once Shahzad and Fletcher came on, the run rate began to climb. Yet again Patel caused problems, and got the final wicket of Anderson to seal the points.



Batting Award:
James Taylor – A blistering knock

Bowling Award:
Paul Jefferson – Set the tone with a great first spell.

Points:
Notts 2, Lancs 0

[DaveK93]

Nottinghamshire vs Leicestershire

Squad News:



All change for the T20 campaign. All the pinch hitters are back, and we look to have a strong squad

Toss:
Notts win the toss and bat first

Notts Innings:
We got off to a fairly slow start, Wessels getting a golden duck, and Burridge getting 3 off 10 balls. Hales was in fine form though, and got yet another half century. With contributions from Ramshaw, Taylor and Hollins, we posted a decent score.

Leics Innings:
We started with our usual wicket taking pair, Jefferson and Coles. They didn’t disappoint either, both getting 2 each to start us off well. Shahzad and Fletcher both caused the batsmen problems as well, so Patel had no problems in limiting the scoring. In the end, it was a comfortable win, and a great way to start the campaign.



Batting Award:
Alex Hales – Really gives us stability at the top of the order

Bowling Award:
Matt Coles – Gets this purely because he was the most economical.

Points:
Notts 2, Leics 0