Arriving for Notts innings attempting to overcome Leicestershire's total of 284, Notts came in to bat in a side lacking the experience and talent of both Stephen Flemming and David Hussey.
The early loss of Darren Bicknell for 4 and a slow scoring start didn't put Notts in a good position and reflected some of the early one day games last year where Notts were always chasing a far off total. After Bicknell went, swiping at a ball and being bowled, Notts on the
Duckworth Lewis (DL) method were 16 runs behind.
By the start of the 13th over, Notts were 7 ahead on the DL method, largely thanks to some aggressive batting by Jason Gallian ably backed by a somewhat cautious Anurag Singh,
14th overGallian out LBW just 5 short of his half century - 72 for 2 .. in comes Warren
29th overNotts now leading by 17 runs on the DL method when Anurag Singh departs on 38 offering a simple catch back to the spin bowler 128 for 3 - in comes Will Smith
31st OverA ridiculous run out as Warren goes for 38 with Will Smith ignoring Warrn's call to run, ending with them standing together at one end watching the wicket keeper stump him. Ironically, if Warren had run back, he may have got away with it as the keeper fumbled the ball and took more time than he should. 144 for 4 - Read in
35th OverRead goes for 4, edging the ball onto his wicket - 169 for 5 now and nearly 30 runs behind on the DL method. A defeat looks likely unless there's some aggressive batting combined with a certain amount of luck ! Ealham comes in to bat
36th OverEalham walks down the wicket to remove some debris .. or maybe he dropped some crumbs on the way in to bat !
37th OverWill Smith drives a low ball and is well caught by the Leics fielder 177 for 6 - Franks comes in to bat and hopefully marshall the troops!
41st OverNotts now need 10 runs per over and the chances are looking as slim as Mark Ealham isn't - or do I speak too soon as Ealham launches a massive 6 over the top of the Fox Road Stand !
42nd Over12 off this over including another well hit 6 from Ealham and a rather fortunate sliced 4 from the General .. maybe it's not over yet !
43rd OverAnd 13 more runs off that one
45th OverEalham reaches his 50, narrowly avoiding being caught hitting a 4. 8 Runs off that over leaving Notts on 234 for 6 - 51 runs needed from 5 overs
46th OverStarts with a 6 from the General but 2 balls later, he's caught on 21 attempting another 6 ... good effort from him though ... let's hope his bowling is as successful this year. In comes Graeme Swann .. 243 for 7
47th Over15 off that over with Ealham hitting a 6 - 27 now needed off the last 3 overs
48th OverSwann run out after batting his own foot and having to hop down the wicket .. unfortunately not fast enough - Sidebottom comes in with Notts now needing 15 more runs, but the sun is shining once more .. maybe it's a good sign ?
49th OverEalham launches himself down the wicket for a big 6 but is caught near the boundary on 75 .. a good innings but could it be the end for Notts ?
50th over10 runs needed from this over. You'd probably have fancied our chances if Ealham was still in but Sidebttom and Harris ?
Ball by ball:
- 0 runs
- 0 runs
- 1 run
- 1 run
- 1 run
- 6 needed off this ball to draw the game but Harris manages only to hit a single.
Notts loose but an entertaining game and as Hussey and Fleming weren't playing I suspect Mick won't be too dissapointed.
Gallian - 45 lbw
Bicknel - 4 b
Singh - 38 b&c
Warren - 38 r/o
W. Smith - 20 c
Read - 4 b
Ealham - 75 c
Franks - 21 c
Swann - 2 r/o
Sidebottom - 5 no
Harris - 2 no
