Nottinghamshire 440/9dec & 324/5dec v Loughborough University 238 & 141/1 (Friendly) 24.03.22

*day three (of three) match drawn.

Even hotter they tell me is today than those two previous as we set temperature records in 2022 that are broken by the hour with every bit more heat this week.

Emblazoned in blue skies, green carpet, white amphitheatre, olive and gold headwear and a touch of willow, Hameed is in bat and in good nick as Notts start the day on 54/1. Ben Duckett however is in no mood to play second fiddle, typically striking at a run a ball rate it is he first to reach the half ton with the former Northants lefty (in batting rather than political stance) fifty up from just 53 balls.

The Notts skipper follows just as typical in ones own fashion, far more pedestrian like from a lengthier 76 balls with the home side 122/1 and adding to their huge first innings target.

Butchart finally breaks through with Duckett hitting to the hands of Montgomery for 77, his 72 ball innings including 16 fours.

Joe Clarke joins Hameed as the Bolton Bradman reaches, and retires on 100 not out. Lyndon James joins the fun before Clarke gives up his wicket for a solid 46. Butchart this time catching off the bowling of Rizvi.

241/4 at Lunch (including retiree Hameed who’s work is done) as Head Coach dad Peter tells son Tom Moores and his mate Lyndon James to give it a real good whack. Moores obliges but is another caught by Butchart off the bowling of Montgomery after a quickfire 36 that included three sixes.

Calvin Harrison adds seven more as James reaches his fifty, finishing on 54 not out the home side leave a thumping 526 to chase, ending the second innings 324/5.

In response, Loughborough are gutsy, by Tea they are 34/0 and in no mood to lose the game. Just 32 overs to navigate in the evening session they do lose their first culprit to the bowling of Evison as MacGregor plays on for 39, the students starting well with a 73 run opening stand but for a singular piece of sloppy play.

The visitors soon pass the hundred with Chapman-Lilley who ducked the first innings reaching the fifty mark (going on to 62 not out) and with Loughborough reaching 141 without further loss (Montgomery 39 not out) it is agreed that the two sides would shake on an amicable draw.

Just nine overs remained of the day, a glorious one it was, a terrific test for Notts with lots of positives and some big scoring involved. Next up it’s Warwickshire and another friendly at the Bridge for a two day game on Saturday and Sunday.

Nottinghamshire XI: Hameed (c), Slater, Duckett, Clarke, James, Moores, Evison, Harrison, Hutton, Chappell, Fletcher.

Loughborough University XII: Butchart (c), MacGregor, Rizvi, Frost, Chapman-Lilley, Nightingale, Miller, Montgomery, King, Galley, Rogers, Luckett.

Venue: Trent Bridge

*Article provided by Daniel Peacock (Editor).

*Main image @TrentBridge Luke Fletcher at full pace hurtling down the wicket.