365 Sporting Days

With only 2 days notice for the away teams I imagine travelling will have been a big ask. Lancashire had played at Lord’s and Somerset at New Road Worcester. From there Lancs went to the Ageas Bowl and Somerset Trent Bridge.

I was in Newcastle to watch my rugby team Saracens win the Champions Cup, Trent Bridge is very nearly on my way back to Essex so it seemed rude not to drop in. I listened to Somerset’s innings on my way and arrived as teh break started. It was slightly disappointing to have to pay the full price for just one innings, but worthwhile to see a few hours of cricket at £20.

Nottinghamshire 222 All Out v Somerset 337 All Out

Steven Mullaney won the toss for Notts and put Somerset in to bat. Tom Banton opened with Azhar Ali, their put on 93 before Banton was out in the 14th over, for 59 from 55 balls. Peter Trego and Azhar added a further 9o before Azhar was bowled by Jake Ball for 72 from 71 balls. James Hildreth came and went in the same over as he was caught and bowled Ball. Somerset were185 for 3 after 29 overs.

Trego formed useful partnerships, first with Tom Abell (42), then Lewis Gregory (24) after George Bartlett was out for a second ball Duck. Trego was run our for 73 from 72 balls, having batted for just over 90 minutes. The Overton twins added 47 between them. With Craig making 20 from 13 balls and Jamie 27 from 18. Somerset finished on 337 All out as Josh Davey was run out on the final ball of the innings.

In spite of Joe Clarke being out for just 14 Notts innings started well, Ben Slater and Alex Hales out on 72 for the 2nd wicket, Slater scored 58 from 60 balls before he was caught by Azhar from the bowling of Craig Overton

I’d been looking forward to watching Ben Duckett bat, but his stay was a short one, just 7 balls. Alex Hales had a good innings, I am a fan of his batting, it was good to see him back with a cricket bat in hand. He made 54 from 51 balls.

Hales was a 2nd victim for Craig Overton, Notts were 131 for 4 in the 24th over. Disappointingly, another favourite, Samit Patel was despatched in the 26th over for just 3, there would be no miracle from him in this match. 110 for 2 had gone very quickly to 135 for 5.

Captain Steven Mullaney contributed 29 before losing his stump, just the one, to a ball from Josh Davey.

Luke Fletcher came in at 8 and gaveteh crowd some real entertainment, he hot 43 from 31 balls, including 2 Fours and 4 Sixes. I’d never seen him play live, but have such a horrible memory of his horrendous accident in 2017 when he was hit fully in the forehead with the ball. He missed a lot of cricket after that, it was good to see him in action.

Notts were bowled out for 222, giving Somerset a win by 115 runs.

Hampshire 245 for 6 v Lancashire 241 All Out

Dane Vilas won the toss for Lancashire and elected to bat. Liam Livingstone opened the batting with Keaton Jennings, he batted for just over 30 minutes making just 22 before he was caught by Jordan Crane from the bowling of Fidel Edwards. Lancs were 37 for 1. Steven Croft made 22 before he became the first of 5 wickets for Gareth Berg, the only Star Man (by my picks) he took 5 for 26 in 6.4 overs.

In an innings that saw Keaton Jennings score 63 and Jake Lehman matching him with 62 4 quick wickets from Berg in restricted Lancs to 241 All out in the 48th over.

Hampshire have a very strong batting line up, but falling to 23 for 3 after losing Tom Alsop, Aneurin Donald and Sam Northeast to Saqib Mahmoud wasn’t the best of starts.

James Vince and Rilee Rossouw came to the rescue with a partnership of 122 for the 4th wicket. Vince was run out having scored 79 after batting for just over 2 hours. Rossouw built a partnership of 59 with Liam Dawson who made 28. Rossouw was bowled by Livingstone, he batted for 157 minutes, faced 109 balls and made 85. Berg and James Fuller saw Hants to the win with an over remaining; they won by 4 wickets.

• Gareth Berg – 5 for 26