Leicestershire 222 & 237/4 v Nottinghamshire 343/8 dec (Bob Willis Trophy North Group)
*Match drawn
22.08.20 – 25.08.20 (match played over 4 days)
It seems to be a running theme that Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club have got themselves into winning positions this summer but after four games of the Bob Willis Trophy they are yet to win a match in the North Group of the competition.
Not helped by the weather this time around a second innings of Leicestershire steadying the ship between showers at Grace Road ensured that the foxes survived to draw but in doing so chances of either side qualifying for the final of the competition next month were also put to bed.
On Saturday Notts reduced Leicestershire to just 222 all out with three wickets for Peter Trego and two a-piece for Zak Chappell, Tom Barber and Samit Patel with one for youngster Lyndon James as Notts rallied to 48 without loss before the close of play.
Sunday was a solid day for Nottinghamshire who between the rain storms ended one short of the Leicestershire first innings target set with eight wickets still in hand, Slater (86) and Hameed (87) producing 200 for the first wicket before two in quick succession saw both openers fall short of their century quests.
As Notts got to work with the bat on Monday morning Clarke went immediately before the cheap losses of Duckett and Mullaney before Patel and Trego took the visitors towards 300 and a growing lead. Patel went for just 13 whilst Moores was bowled for just five but Lyndon James hit 36 in 32 balls to help Notts to a 121 lead by lunch.
Eight wickets down a declaration followed with Captain Steven Mullaney fixed on having a go at winning the game and eighteen overs in to the afternoon session it might have been considered a good decision after Trego had Azad caught by Moores for 6 and Dearden went for 16 bowled LBW by Mullaney.
That seemed to be as good as would get for Notts who saw Evans and Ackermann inspired to steady the ship before Evans late on got caught by Hameed off the bowling of Patel on 48. Leicestershire ending the day 143/3 with a lead of 21.
As the rain rattled down, Tuesday morning frustrated both sides ambitions on any slim chances of winning the match with play finally resuming at 2:15pm and although Trego had Ackermann bowled LBW on 65 it was left for Rhodes (22) and Swindells (52) to guide their team towards safety before the rain headed in again to end proceedings with Leicestershire 237/4 and with a lead of 116.
Chances missed for Notts this summer with one more four day match to go verses Durham on September 6th but before that the Outlaws will return to T20 action with five Vitality Blast matches kicking off against Yorkshire Vikings live on SKY this Thursday night.
*Main image @TrentBridge Leicestershire’s Grace Road looking fabulous on Monday.
