By Grockle
June 26 2024

Days 3 and 4 of the game in Nottingham  It runs out of steam just after Tea on Day 3 I'm afraid.

Championship v Nottinghamshire @ Trent Bridge Sunday 23 June 2024

DAY 3

Overcast at the start of the day but the sun is starting to break through and the temperature is rising as we near 11 am.  The first objective is the 300 run batting point.  Then keep wickets in the first hour as we move towards the 110 over point getting to at least 350 by then and the last batting point we may possibly get.  To get any more would require the highest run rate of the whole game which might be a litytle too much to hope for.  350 would also give us the first innings lead of 24.  Then the next target is to accumulate by any means necessary, as many runs as possible before we run out of bats!

The grind is not going to stop.  Runs are not easy to acquire and the spinners may still have a say in the outcome of this game.  Jack Leach may be our 'ace in the hole' in the second phase of the game but we need to give him as much as we can in order to pressurise them in their second knock.  An interesting day that also has all the chances of flattening out into an inevitable draw scenario a day early.

However you are keeping track of this one... have a good Tuesday

Paterson is opening from the Radcliffe Road End to Tom Abell in brilliant sunshine and a smattering of supporters, mostly in the shaded parts of the ground as the temperature is rising.  Notts start with a maiden.  No surprise that Ollie Stone starts at the other end with James Rew facing. Stone get one to spit off the surface and a surprised Rew manages to keep it down and they scamper through for the first run of the day.  However, that one sngle is all that comes from the first two overs of Day 3

The 300 arrives courtesy of a boundary of byes after a Stone wayward boundary evades the batter and all the slip field.  There's another bowler and umpire conference about the ball and the bouncer seems to have come off Tom's helmet because there is quite an inspection of that as well.  Then normality returns to the field of play as backroom staff go back to the room and the match officials return to their places.

The 89th over ends with the score on 304 but little is happening and so the home side return to Calvin Harrison from the Radcliffe for over number 92 with the score having moved on to 308.  The 350 target looks a long way away, though they migh just make it. 400 is in 'cloud cuckoo land' at the moment by the 110th over.  The next moment would be a welcome Rew half century.  He is going to earn it as Harrison immediately gets some turn.  Runs are few and far between and result mostly from singles and snicks outside the slip cover.  There are the odd shots to the outfield cover but no boundaries this morning so far and a rate that mirrors that of the last two days, something just over 3 per over.  By the end of the 94th Somerset have added 20 in 9 overs and Notts turn to Pennington to see if he can move the game on from the Stuart Broad End

Harrison finally strikes as he has Abell LBW for 111 in 302 minute from 230 balls... that was a shift!  In comes Kasey Aldridge to play the middle order role usually given to his injured skipper Lewis Gregory at 315 for 5.  We are still 45 runs behind so there is still a job to do here.  Kasey is however not long for the middle as he is well caught by Harrison at second slip off Pennington in the 97th ayt 316 for 6 without scoring.  So the skipper Craig Overton arrives in the middle with the same job to do and gets down to it immediately with the first four of the day.  However, Harrison who is having a good game bowls to a field with 3 close fielders, two on the off and one on the leg.  Notts have their 'danders' up and are appealing for everything and the bats need to hold their nerve presently as the bowlers are on a roll.

Rew  moves to 49 off the 99th delivery but does not make it to the 100th as he gives a catch behind to Moores off Pennington leaving us in the middle of a mini-collapse where we have lost 3 wickets for 6 runs in the space of about 3 overs.  Out comes Migael Pretorius to try and help his skipper reset this end of the Somerset innings and get the train back on the tracks.

Craig looks to go about this in his usual no nonsense style by taking 20 off 12 balls while his bowling partner takes 15 off 10 and we easily move past 350 in no time at all to 356 at the end of the 102nd.  They've added 35 in 4 overs after only 28 came off 11 before they arrived.  It doesn't last though as Overton is LBW to Pennington at 356 with the lead just 4 away mainly thanks to his 20 in quick time.

Out comes 'centurion' Jack Leach at 356 for 8.  You are certain of one thing.  Pretorius won't die wondering and the score will move or the innings will end.  400 is not on.  But you never know!!  Jack gets one in the ribs from Pennington and has to take a bit of a rest for a minute.  358 for 8 at the end of the 103rd.

Harrison bowls and goes the distance twice as Pretorius movesto 31 from 20 with a four and a six and the overr ends with the score up to  370. 6 overs to the cutoff and 30 needed before we lose two wickets.  Somerset do now have a lead of 10.

Jack is just looking to nurdle singles and get Migael on strike to see what happens.  He, on the other hand, is attacking everything bowled to him.  Pennington is trying to hold the South African in check.  It's kind of working though every ball is looking like a possible wicket taker or boundary fodder delivery and he does keep gettting them away.  Atr the end of the 106th Jack is getting into the act with a straight six off Harrison to move the score to 385.  15 needed from 4 to gain the elusive next batting point.

Pretorius is facing Pennington with 34 off 25, make that 40 off 26.  He takes a single which allows Jack to take a four and we are 4 from 400.   He then scores the 400th run!! courtesy of another boundary.

After that 'fun' the 50 partnership arrives off 31 balls at 406 followed by Ollie Stone returning from the Stuart Broad end to try and break this awkward duo up.  He is through Jack but it misses everything!!  Leachy thern takes him for 3.  Migael goes to a purely aggressive 50 from 32 balls at 412 for 8and there is still an over to go until the 110 mark.  The partnership is at 57 from 43 and it has got us to a score that wasn't expected within the bonus point limit .  415 for 8. 

Lunch arrives at 424 for 8 after 113 overs with Jack on 32 from 36 and Migael on 55 from 41.  A 68 run partnership which has given us a 64 run lead with Jake Ball still to come.  Not too shabby after the little hiccup after Abell's dismissal at 35 in the 96th.

A llittle hark back to the late 90s in the lunch break as the bowling practice sessions are taken by Jason Kerr who was having a chat with the Notts guy... a Mr Kevin Shine probably about "wickets we took on that old field in Taunton" while putting Josh Davey and Luke Fletcher through their fitness paces.

Back to the action.  Harrison continues after lunch and Pretorius continues to look to punish him.  Stone opens the afternoon at the other end and Pretorius is looking for runs off him as well after taking 3 off the first over.  Leach is also contributing his deft touch to the partnership which has now moved into the 70s. the 115th over ends with a score of 432 for 8.

Finally the constant Notts shouting gets a result as Leach is caught behind off Harrison for 37 at 435 for 9. A confident and vital knock from the spinner which may have changed the nature of this game and given him something to bowl at as he helped push the lead to a present 75.  In comes Ball.  Pretorius announces to no-one's surprise that he will go for it as he sends the ball back over Stone's head for four to take him to 66 and the score to 440.  When Jake gets on strike there is a discussion about field placings before Stone provides a bit of 'spice'.  But the ex Notts man survives the over.

Notts continue to have faith in Harrison (they may have overbowled him) and the Somerset overseas continues to put him into the New Stand as another six moves the score towards 450.   Four more gets us there from Pretorius as he moves to 76 and then to 80 with four more and then 84 with another one.  The final ball of the over has the field being brought in on the suggestion of Hameed and the batter takes a single to keep the strike.  A partnership of 24 off 12 has developed with Ball yet to score.  A bye brings up the 100 run leadand once again Ball survives the last ball of an over.

James finally gets the ball in his hands at the Radclliffe for the first time today and it is obvious that Pretorius is farming the strike as he doesn't run the obvious single available  He does take a two however and then a single off the 5th to rotate. Everyone moves in for Jake who simply defends.  A bit of batting 'chess' being played now in the afternoon sunshine as Pennington comes back at the pavilion and cramps Pretorius for room.  So the South African simply comes up the wicket and puts the ball into the seats behind the bowler next ball moving to 94.  Again he puts the ball into space and does not take the run.  Heis dealing in boundaries and late over singles and doing it very well.  Ball once again has 1 to face but his luck runs out as he is out LBW to Pennington with Migeal Pretorius stranded on 95 from 71 and Somerset 470 all out.  Superb work from the tail.  An unexpected lead of 110 with nearly all of it coming from the bats of Jack Leach and Migael Pretorius

Craig Overton obviously opens up the second innings phase of the game from the Stuart Broad end with 58 overs of the day left and Hameed is immediately on the attack to him.  That might be too early a tactic on this pitch but we will see.  2 for 0 after 1.  With the long innings of Pretorius just over it is quite understandable that Jake Ball opens his account at the other end instead of the South African.  He bowls to Slaterand the score moves on to 6 after 2.

Not suprisingly, Jack Leach is into the attack as early as the 8th over and by the 10th the run rate has remained pretty much around 3 with a total of only 31 without loss.  The chances of this game resulting in quick high scoring second innings looks more and more unlikely so unless there is a flurry of wickets the draw is starting to look like the most probable result.

In the first part of this second innings, no bowler is looking all that dangerous but also as the ball is not coming on to the bat, the chances of quick scoring is also not going to happen any time soon.  Bowlers can't get bats out and bats can't push the score on.  The chances of Notts getting 300 plus on the board as a lead in any realistic time frame looks doubtful and Somerset taking 10 wickets giving them enough time to get the all out total also looks difficult in the time left in the game.  This game could just wander along for two days to an inevitable non result about 4 tomorrow unless someone can get hold of it and give it a good shake like Stone and Pretorius have.  Can't see it I'm afraid.

Pretorius takes over from his skipper at the pavilion end for the 14th over... he's had enough rest it seems.  Progress is slow and the 50 finally arrives halfway through the 18th courtesy of an overthrow.  This also brings up the 50 partnership for the first wicket with Hameed on 28(64) and Slater on 22(44). The NRR is 3 presently and there are 39 overs to go in the day.  This is continued as Notts reach 60 after 20 overs.

Kasey is introduced for the 23rd from the pavilion (Jack may bowl all game from the Radcliffe at this rate) with 64 on the board. Nothing really changes because of this except that with 72 on the board after 25  the rate has dropped to 2.88 per over!!

The Tea interval arrives with Notts on 72 without loss off 26 overs with Slater on 36 and Hameed on 34.  Anthony Gibson has just been in and said that this will be the 'Treadmill' session (from a commentating point of view) with no real change in sight.

After Tea we return to the same process (not sure what else is available honestly) Aldridge starts at the pavilion end and Jack is at the other and the run rate goes below 2.8.  It all looks flat and dead but with 120 odd overs of the game to go!!

Slater passes 50 off 101 balls at 95 and then Hameed takes the single from Leach to get the score to three figures in the 34th over.  Jake Ball changes ends for the 35th over to the Stuart Broad end.  It takes quite a while for Hameed to join his partner in the 50s.  He finally gets there in the 39th over off Ball off 107 balls at 111 without loss.  This shot returns Notts to the lead by a single run.  It's been a while.  Two deliveries later we get some indication of the state of the pitch when Ball fires down a delivery which Slater leaves.  The ball bounces twice before it gets to Rew.  Not a lot of bounce in this strip

The use of Leach has not had the desired result and so Migael Pretorius comes on at the Radcliffe Road end in the hope of changing the situation at 126 without loss and with 17 overs still to bowl.  You do get the feeling that the edge has gone off the Somerset attack a little.  It must be difficult to maintain the intensity of attack when so little is happening off the bat or the pitch.  It may, of course, change immediately should a wicket go down.  It's amazing how that can concentrate the mind again.

Another variation is tried as Andy Umeeed comes on at the pavilion end at a score of 135 in the 43rd over.  The other spin option in the Somerset side.  Next thing you know we'll see the left hand deliveries of Tom Lammonby.  He goes for 1 run.  The score and the 150 partnership arrives off Umeed in the 47th off 285 balls with Hameed on 78 (135) and Slater on 61 (150).  11 more overs to go tonight as Pretorius starts the 48th.  It's all gone very turgid I'm afraid.

Jack comes back on to see the day out at the Radcliffe and he is joined by Craig back at the other end where the innings started.  Hameed goes for 91 bowled by COve 200 minutes 158 balls at 172 for 1 and in comes Ollie Stone for 5 and a half overs.  Though it is probably the best time to have him in, you might get him tonight or the possible conditions tomorrow morning might be the best to have a second go at him - though it might also just be clutching at straws either way.  He's got off the mark in the next to last over and for that COve puts one past his nose.  Craig has had quite a stroppy afternoon it seems and may be reported according to the commentators for his antics... he was doing a bit of 'staring down' and 'chatting' yesterday ass well... maybe he's taking this captain thingy a bit too seriously??

Jack has the last over of the day with 177 for 1 on the board, a lead of 67.  Somerset crowd the bat as Stone faces.  It's a maiden but no real danger and the game concludes on Day 3 at that score.

DAY 4

The prospects for today are that all results are possible though two are far less probable than the other one.  The main concensus is that it'll be 70 overs and a handshake with both sides taking the 8 for the draw and the bonus points (Nottingham 5 and Somerset 7).  The weather will only have an effect in that it is once again very very warm but unless there is a superhuman feat of cricketing ability by a bowler or a batsman this game will come to an end without a conclusion sometime after 4pm.

Stone on 3 and Slater on 70 will open the proceedings against Overton and/or Pretorius/Leach one would imagine and off we jolly well go!!

Craig  does open - no surprise - a maiden ensues.  But Leach takes the other end so they aren't seeing much in it for the seam attack early on - not a lot of overcast cloud moisture in Nottingham this Wednesday morning.

The main events of the first session were the arrival of the 200 in about the 65th over, Kasey Aldridge bowling from the Radcliffe Road end for the firsst time in the game.  Slater finally reaching a well deserved 100 in the 260s and the fact that Andy Umeed caused more opposition concern with his slow arm stuff from the Stuart Broad end than Jack did all morning - is he an 'occasional' bowler who professionals under estimate or is there more to him than that?  I guess we may see in the next few months.  He certainly surprised more than one player in the MetroBank 50 last year with his overs.

Slater and Stone reach a 100 partnership at 272 off around 170 balls but despite a couple of close run things per bowler during the morning this wicket is offering very little to the fielding side.  A batting mistake or the odd jaffa will get wickets but the chances have been few and far between on a pretty predictable fourth day pitch. 

Jack comes back on at the Radcliffe just before lunch with Jake being re-introduced at the other end and the latter goes past Slater at 283 for 1.  A single brings Stone on to strike on 49 from 97 balls and he moves on to 50 from the 100th ball he faces as a snick send the ball to the boundary behind Rew (no slips in).  After 87 overs and with another 67 in the day Notts reach a lead of 183 runs at 293 for 1.  That is the score at lunch with Stone on 53 and Slater on 123.

66 overs to go in the game (we won't bowl them all) as we start the 88th of the innings with a new ball taken by Ball and Leach as Notts move towards 300.  This is Jack's 34th over with 10 maidens and 80 for Sweet Faith Arkwright... the joys of the professional spin bowler.

Finally Ball gets some reward as he dismisses Stone for 63 at 308 for 2.  In comes Will Young but the wickets don't keep coming even though Slater then becomes becalmed as 24 runs are added with him only providing a single in the next few overs.  Young meanwhile scores at about a run a ball off both Somerset men

Jackpasses 40 overs with 12 maidens for 91 before thy take him off  and ask Kasey to have another go at the Radcliffe.  Meanwhile Migael comes on for Jake at the other end.  Unfortunately though changing the personnel does very little to change any aspect of this game as the home side move towards 350 while the draw looks definitely nailed on for just after the Tea interval.  The 350 inevitably arrives in the 106th via a Slater boundary... albeit pretty slowly in the grand schem of the game.  It promotes more overs from Umeed from the pavilion as the 50 partnership also looks to arrive along with a 150 from Slater after a period of drought from his bat in the last few overs.

The partnership arrives halfway through the 107th (from 65 balls), mostly from Young but the higher scoring bat looks to reach his milestone against the newly introduced left arm deliveries of Tom Lammonby who this late in the game is bowling his first over of the contest!!  It doesn't come during that over (his first of the first class season by the way).  He has to wait until he can take a single off Umeed's for 150 off 317 with 19 fours and 1 six in the 111th at 374 for 2. 

At some stage in this session, Somerset stopped looking for some kind of solution to the position and are now simply going through the motions using the two 'occasional' bowlers to finish out this game as there is nothing left to do but get to the handshake point.  It is good to let Andy and Tom get some overs in as they can at least hone their skills in a game but nothing else is going to be gained here.  Umeed will be using his bowling in the 50 over competition I am sure (though we may have two Test spinners available for that competition)... when will Tom B be next asked to bowl?  We don't use his left arm as often as some supporters would like to see so it may not be any time soon.

Tea looms on the last day as Notts also move towards 400 and a lead somewhere close to 300 - the earliest anyone would have expected a declaration to be considered.  Young also sees a 50 on his horizon from the score of 44 he already has.  None of those targets arrive before the interval so we shall have to wait a little longer for the excitement to ramp up!!

The last rites commence with the return of Jack Leach from the Radcliffe bowling to Slater with an hour to go before the game can be concluded.  Young needs 2 for his 50 but seems in no hurry to get them as he shows the full face of his bat to the spinner for the majority of the 118th over. For the first time in the game we will have spin at both ends as Umeed continues at the Stuart Broad end with Slater also being wary of doing too much against the attack.  He does take a single halfway through so Young gets the opportunity again and nearly perishes trying to go over the infield though the fielder takes the pace off his shot rather than getting enough of a hand to it to have it defined as a 'chance'.  Runs are still really hard to come by in any real quantity though Slater does finally get a Leach delivery away for 3 to bring up the 400.  401 for 2 at the end of the 120th.  Young also gets a ball to the boundary off Umeed to bring up his half ton from 81 balls.  It also moves the partnership on to 99 from 150 balls.  That 100 is achieved in the next Leach over with a contribution of 57 from Young and 37 from Slater.   With the boundary that brings that up Notts also extends their lead to over 300 at 411 for 2.

The little variations in people and jobs starts to blur on days like this. We have Andy Umeed bowling his 19th over with Tom Kohler-Cadmore keeping wicket.  Though the more things change, the more they stay the same as the run rate stays at just over 3 and the Notts total (pointless now to be honest) continues to rise slowly but inexorably as Jack wheels in with his 45th over of the innings.  The world turns and almost on cue Tom Banton comes on to bowl the 127th from the pavilion.  Slater takes him for 8.

It ends at 425 for 2 declared and the hands are shaken etc... a promising start in glorious weather becomes a bit turgid on an unforgiving pitch which could have given much more and didn't.  Lots of hard work for a draw and in our case 15 points.  On we go, hopefully not through the Glastonbury traffic, to meet Warwickshire at Taunton in the second of the summer 4 day games on Sunday. 

Back to the Red Nottingham @ Trent Bridge Part 2

Discussion started by Grockles.com , 26/06/2024 15:20

Grockles.com
26/06/2024 15:20

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:06:28:14:07:29 by Grockle.

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Grockle
26/06/2024 15:22

Apologies, for the first time ever I think I've gone over the word limit on a frontpage story - I usually split them but haven't in this case so the software has done it for me!!

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