Impressive Notts Win Again

Nottinghamshire 266 & 233/5 v Worcestershire 159 & 339 (County Championship Division Two) 28.04.22-01.05.22

*four day match Nottinghamshire win by five wickets

A third win in four County Championship matches this season ensures Nottinghamshire stay top of the division as they eye promotion back to the top tier of English red ball cricket.

After winning the toss and electing to have a bowl on an overcast morning in West Bridgford on Thursday, Nottinghamshire went straight to work on day one as Dane Paterson ripped through the Worcestershire side in emphatic fashion, but it wasn’t until the returning Stuart Broad disposed of former Outlaw Jake Libby, caught behind on 15 with the visitors on 26, which set the collapse in motion.

What followed was a remarkable spell before lunch as the South African took four wickets as first Pollock on 31, then Ali (6), D’Oliveira (10) and Barnard (8) all skittled back to the Pavilion as Worcestershire managed to scramble to 114/5, the second session of the day however went even better for Notts, Paterson straight back into his stride in the first over of the afternoon and he notched his fifth wicket of the game, Cox for just two given out lbw.

After a resilient knock, Haynes would follow for 37 before Baker went caught Broad for Paterson’s seventh wicket of the innings. Morris was next to give Paterson a career best 8/52 in just 15 overs whilst Fletcher knocked off tail ender Pennington to close the innings on 159.

In reply, Notts stated well and reached 70 before losing Ben Slater, run out for 24. Haseeb Hameed got his half-century before chasing a wide one and falling cheaply to Finch on 53.

Duckett and Clarke took the scores over the ton as the former reached his fifty off 37 balls before getting out trying to drive Pennington through the covers, Notts then slipped to cheap wickets including Clarke (18), Mullaney (7), James (19) and Patterson-White for a duck, Stuart Broad and Tom Moores however, dug in to provide Notts a lead of 44 with three wickets in hand overnight.

Friday, saw a similar start in weather and although Tom Moores went early on nineteen, it was Broad assisted by Fletcher who himself hit eighteen, who bumped the score on to a considerable lead of 107, the England international reaching 45 not out before Paterson’s last wicket went for just two runs and three balls.

As the sun came out the Worcestershire reply looked to be falling to a considerable whimper, Pollock bowled Fletcher for a duck before Libby went to the same man with the away side 6/2.

Azar Ali went next as Stuart Broad got in on the act, Paterson then took Oliveira as trailing by 75 Notts had reduced Worcestershire to 32/4.

The second session of the day however went the way of the away side who not only restored some credibility but gave themselves a chance to win, Haynes out for 49 a seemingly big scalp at the time, but as Barnard and Cox stood firm, the two put on 140 for the sixth wicket, overnight Worcestershire led by 118.

Barnard getting his hundred, before eventually reaching 163 not out, Cox going with the scores on 241 as Baker followed soon after, but Worcestershire again dug in and eventually reached 339 to set Notts a target of 233 to win.

In response Notts lost Slater for just two runs but Hameed and Duckett kept the score ticking away well past the fifty mark before Hameed was bowled by Barnard with Notts 85/2.

Duckett eventually reaching 78 before Cox caught him off the bowling of Morris, Lyndon James and Joe Clarke edging the side nearer target before James went with Notts on 171, Steven Mullaney didn’t last long, but Tom Moores helped Clarke see the match through in overtime Saturday evening, Notts winning with five wickets remaining and a day to spare.

Nottinghamshire XI: Slater, Hameed, Duckett, Clarke, James, Mullaney (c), Moores, Patterson-White, Broad, Fletcher, Paterson.

Worcestershire XI: Pollock, Libby, Ali, Haynes, D’Oliveira (c), Barnard, Cox, Baker, Finch, Morris, Pennington.

Venue: Trent Bridge, Nottingham