MATCH REPORT- 1st XI VERSUS LOUGHBOROUGH GRAMMAR
On the hottest day of the year so far (just above freezing), Nottingham arrived at Loughborough determined to carry on where we left off last week. Upon inspection, the pitch was decidedly damp, and Brown was grateful to win his first toss of the season. Having taken to the field, Nottingham began in a slightly wayward fashion, with several wides in the first few overs and some sloppy fielding. The introduction of Terry into the attack however saw a sudden change in momentum, with an accurate couple of overs producing the desired breakthrough. Cobbett was his reliable self at the other end, and the pair built up a fair bit of pressure. The run-rate hovered at around 3 runs per over, with the new batsman taking a while to adjust to the slowness of the surface. The fielding remained worryingly loose, with flashes of immaturity from some of the younger members of the side. With wickets proving hard to come by, Brown introduced himself and the veteran Winton from the far end, and the pair immediately settled into tight spells of bowling, tightening the screw with continued accuracy. The pressure was clearly mouting, and with the run-rate going nowhere, risks were being taken. Frustratingly, the ball continued to evade the fielders, although Nottingham remained in control. After 30 overs the score was 95-1, and Loughborough, it seemed, were preparing themselves for the onslaught. It never quite came. Wickets began to fall at regular intervals- the number 4 batsman departed for a duck to a "jaffa-cake" (full toss) from Tosar, who was reaping the rewards of building pressure in an accurate second spell. Brown took himself off in order to save himself for the end, and Storey replaced him from the far end. Bowling with his customary aggression, the crab maintained a tidy line and length, before finding an extra bit of life from the wicket and cartwheeling the batsman's middle stump. Running out of overs, Loughborough looked like falling way short of their original target, and the exasperated opener continued to struggle for timing. He brought up his 50, but running out of partners, was eventually bowled by Brown at the start of his second spell. The lower order appeared to be playing for a draw- the reintroduction of Winton to the attack from the other end saw the runs virtually dry up. Nottingham hamered home the advantage, closing in in the field and starving the lower order of any runs, and wickets duly fell. A final score of 159 all out from 49 overs represented a good recovery from Nottingham after a wayward start.
Following a decent lunch, Brown and Sidhu marched out to the middle with the apparently manageable task of knocking off the 160 required for victory. However, Loughborough's opening bowlers charged in with venom, the taller of the two hurrying Brown with a pair of decent bouncers, and the left-armer swinging the ball copiously into the bat. The openers however battled through, and at the end of 10 overs there were no alarms- the score was 31-0. The two first change bowlers represnted an entirely different proposition, delivering some distinctly friendly half-volleys. Brown pounced, craving two glorious boundaries through the off-side. The tactics then suddenly changed, with all of the fielders retreating to the boundary for Brown, and then crowding the bat with Sidhu on strike. The tactic was working, and the run-rate slowed almost to a standstill. Sidhu was bowled off the inside edge, and Winton followed next ball caught behind. Storey arrived at the crease, and began with his usual frenetic approach, playing some lovely shotsto the newly introduced spinners. However, a horrible mix-up between the two saw Storey stranded and out, with Brown reflecting on a questionable choice of single. McCarthy's arrival at the crease saw no let-up in the pressure, Brown continued to hit singles and the new batsman struggled for timing on the slow pitch. McCarthy took a risk and danced down the track and connected clearly, smashing the ball over mid-on to the boundary. He was then however beaten by an absolute peach that turned and bounced, clipping the offbail, and the welcome sight of Godrich wobbled out to the crease. He wasted no time in setting about the bowling, playing in his usual arc (mid-wicket - fine-leg) and then charging down the pitch and whacking the offie over the sightscreen. It was a great piece of confident batting, and the pressure was back on Loughborough. Desperate for a breakthrough, the Loughborough captain brought back his opening bowler, who immediately produced the goods, knocking Godrich's off-stump back with a sharp delivery. Tosar came and went, caught brilliantly at mid-wicket, and suddenly the game hung in the balance. Brown brought up his 50, but was continually frustrated by the fielders on the boundary who prevented him from scoring anything other than singles. Terry arrived at the crease and ran frantically between the wickets, and with 21 required off 7 overs, it was going to be close. Brown, in a pent-up slash of frustration, slogged the spinner hard and straight to mid-on, who clung on brilliantly to leave Loughborough delirious and Brown devastated. The tail were unable to work the ball around, and the last 2 wickets fell in a tumble, leaving us 15 short. It was a very quiet dressing room after the game. An average performance had seen us lose to a side we would expect to beat 9 times out of 10. The bus was a sombre one on the way home.
Frankie Brown 6T2
