Cricket

Nottinghamshire's Lyndon James played a valiant innings, remaining unbeaten on 92, as his team recovered from a precarious 50 for 6 to reach 212 for 9 at the end of day one of their Vitality County Championship match against Hampshire at Trent Bridge.Mohammad Abbas, who tormented Nottinghamshire with 15 wickets in two matches last season, once again proved to be a thorn in their side, claiming 4 for 36. However, Hampshire's fielding woes may come back to haunt them as they dropped four catches, including three off James.Nottinghamshire, fielding the same XI that secured their first win of the season against Lancashire last week, found themselves in early trouble as Abbas struck twice in the first three overs, dismissing Ben Slater and Will Young. Joe Clarke and Haseeb Hameed followed suit, leaving the hosts reeling at 37 for 4.James Fuller and Keith Barker added to Nottinghamshire's woes, reducing them to 50 for 6. However, James and Steven Mullaney forged a crucial partnership, adding 69 runs for the seventh wicket. James was fortunate to survive three dropped catches during his innings, while Mullaney contributed 29.Liam Dawson eventually broke the partnership, bowling Mullaney for 29. Olly Stone joined James at the crease and the pair added another 59 runs before Stone was caught behind off Abbas for 32. Dillon Pennington was the final wicket to fall, leg before to Kyle Abbott.Hampshire's decision to bowl first on a green-tinged pitch appeared to be the right one, but their fielding lapses could prove costly. Nottinghamshire will be hoping to build on James' innings and push for a competitive total on day two.

Nottinghamshire's relentless dominance culminated in a resounding 72-run victory over Lancashire in the Vitality County Championship match at Trent Bridge. The triumph marked Nottinghamshire's first win of the season and propelled them up the Division One standings.Lancashire's hopes of salvaging a draw rested on the shoulders of wicketkeeper Matthew Hurst, who defied Nottinghamshire's bowling attack with a maiden first-class century. Hurst's valiant 104, studded with 10 fours and four sixes, provided a glimmer of resistance for the visitors.However, Nottinghamshire's bowling prowess proved too formidable, with Dillon Pennington leading the charge with figures of 4 for 61. The home side's relentless pressure eventually forced Lancashire to succumb for 252, leaving Nottinghamshire with a modest target of 81 to secure victory.Despite losing opener Ben Slater early, Nottinghamshire's batting lineup proved too strong for Lancashire's depleted bowling attack. Captain Haseeb Hameed, who had anchored Nottinghamshire's first innings with an unbeaten 247, remained unbeaten on 24 not out to guide his team to victory.The win was a testament to Nottinghamshire's resilience and determination. After being dismissed for 61 for 6 on the third evening, they fought back admirably to secure a comprehensive victory. Lancashire, on the other hand, remain rooted to the bottom of Division One after suffering their third defeat in five matches.

Nottinghamshire's Haseeb Hameed, aiming to revive his Test cricket aspirations, notched his first Vitality County Championship century since September 2022 against his former county Lancashire. Despite his unbeaten 137, Nottinghamshire still trail Lancashire's first innings total by 52 runs at Trent Bridge.Hameed, who has been dropped twice by England, showcased his batting prowess with 16 boundaries. However, he was fortunate to survive a drop on 104 off Tom Hartley. Hartley, who is set to join the England squad for the upcoming white-ball series against Pakistan and the T20 World Cup, went wicketless in 18 overs.Lancashire's George Balderson emerged as the bowling star, claiming 4 for 72 from 22 overs. Balderson, who shared a crucial partnership with Keaton Jennings in Lancashire's first innings, exploited the conditions effectively.Lancashire's 331-run total was boosted by a strong finish on day one, with Tom Bailey contributing an unbeaten 31. Olly Stone, who impressed with the ball on day one, picked up three wickets for 56 runs from 23.2 overs.Nottinghamshire began their chase aggressively, but Ben Slater's early dismissal set them back. Hameed and Will Young steadied the innings, but Young's dismissal for 27 opened the door for Lancashire.Balderson's return to the attack proved decisive, as he dismissed Joe Clarke and Tom Moores in quick succession. Jack Haynes provided support to Hameed, who reached his half-century from 99 balls and his century from just 63 more.Despite Hameed's heroics, Nottinghamshire suffered another setback before tea when Haynes was dismissed for 35. After tea, Lyndon James and Hameed reduced the deficit, but the second new ball brought success for Lancashire. James was caught at first slip, and Calvin Harrison's promising innings ended with an edge to second slip.Nottinghamshire will need to dig deep on day three to match Lancashire's first innings total and put themselves in a strong position in this Division One encounter.

Lancashire's hopes of a prosperous start to their Vitality County Championship match against Nottinghamshire were dashed on day one at Trent Bridge, as Dillon Pennington's exceptional bowling performance restricted them to 306 for 8.Skipper Keaton Jennings (91) and overseas batter Tom Bruce (73) provided a solid foundation for Lancashire, but the team's momentum was halted by a late-session collapse. Pennington's devastating spell with the second new ball, claiming 3 for 15, proved pivotal.The morning session belonged to Lancashire, with Jennings and George Balderson (50) sharing a 107-run partnership for the third wicket. However, the dismissal of Josh Bohannon (24) by Lyndon James just before lunch sparked a Nottinghamshire resurgence.After lunch, Jennings and Balderson continued to dominate, but their partnership was broken by Pennington's brilliance. Jennings' reverse sweep attempt against Calvin Harrison resulted in a top-edge catch, while Balderson was undone by Stone's pace.Bruce took charge, reaching a half-century off 69 balls, but Pennington's double strike with the new ball, removing George Bell and Matthew Hurst, shifted the balance back in Nottinghamshire's favor. Bruce's dismissal to Paterson further dented Lancashire's hopes.Despite securing a second batting point, Lancashire's late collapse left them with a challenging position heading into day two.

Warwickshire's hopes of salvaging a draw against Nottinghamshire were boosted on the third day of their Vitality Championship clash at Edgbaston, as rain washed out the first two sessions and limited play to just 35 overs.Resuming on 71 for 3, Warwickshire advanced their first innings to 175 for 5, with Ed Barnard anchoring the innings with a studious 69 (142 balls). The former Worcestershire player reached his half-century in 100 balls and shared a crucial 84-run partnership with Jake Bethell (38 not out).Nottinghamshire's bowlers, led by Dillon Pennington (3 for 40), toiled hard on a placid pitch that offered little assistance. However, Barnard's resolute batting and Bethell's newfound patience frustrated their efforts to force a result.The visitors had earlier posted a formidable 400 all out, thanks to a brilliant double-century from Ben Duckett (218). Despite the excellent bowling conditions on the second afternoon, Warwickshire's bowlers were unable to replicate their success on the third day, as the cloud cover lifted and the pitch behaved well.With the follow-on target set at 251, Warwickshire need just 76 more runs to reach safety on the final morning. If they can achieve that, a draw, which has always been the most likely outcome, will become a certainty.However, Nottinghamshire still harbor a glimmer of hope. If their seamers can make early inroads tomorrow, they could put the home side under pressure and potentially force a result.

Nottinghamshire's batting lineup showcased resilience and determination on the opening day of their Vitality Championship Division One clash against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Ben Duckett's masterful unbeaten century of 197 anchored the innings, guiding his team to a respectable 367 for 8.Duckett's innings was a testament to his maturity and composure. He faced 230 deliveries, constructing his knock with patience and precision. His innings featured a wide array of strokes, including 23 boundaries and a six.Despite Duckett's heroics, Nottinghamshire's batting display was inconsistent. Ben Slater (65) and Jack Haynes (74) also made significant contributions, but no other batter managed to reach double figures. Warwickshire's attack, led by the experienced Oliver Hannon-Dalby, kept the pressure on throughout the day.Hannon-Dalby, in his 200th appearance for Warwickshire, was the standout performer with figures of 19-3-58-4. His accurate bowling and ability to extract movement from the pitch proved challenging for Nottinghamshire's batters.The match began with Nottinghamshire captain Haseeb Hameed opting to bat first. However, he departed early, caught at cover off Hannon-Dalby. Slater was fortunate to survive an early chance when he was dropped by Jake Bethell at third slip.Duckett and Slater then combined for a 146-run partnership, providing a solid foundation for Nottinghamshire. Slater played with increasing fluency, hitting 10 fours in his innings. However, Hannon-Dalby's return to the attack proved decisive, as he dismissed Slater with a superb away-cutter.The loss of Slater triggered a collapse, with Nottinghamshire losing three wickets for 15 runs. Will Young and Joe Clarke, who had shared a record partnership against Somerset last week, managed just five runs between them.Duckett found a reliable partner in Haynes, who struck 11 fours in an attractive knock. However, the introduction of the new ball brought another cluster of wickets. Hannon-Dalby trapped Haynes lbw, while Hasan Ali dismissed Lyndon James and Calvin Harrison.With Nottinghamshire eight wickets down, Duckett needed nine runs for his double century. He reached the milestone with an audacious ramp shot over the wicketkeeper's head off Will Rhodes. However, bad light forced an early close, leaving Duckett stranded on 197 overnight.

Nottinghamshire's Joe Clarke and Will Young etched their names into the record books with an extraordinary third-wicket partnership that transformed the Vitality County Championship match against Somerset at Taunton. The duo's unbroken stand of 370, spanning nearly six hours, shattered the previous Nottinghamshire record set 121 years ago.Clarke and Young emerged at the crease with their side trailing by 213 runs. However, they displayed unwavering concentration and shot selection, frustrating the Somerset bowlers throughout the day. Clarke, who had already scored centuries against Worcestershire and Essex this season, reached his half-century off 88 balls and went on to compile an unbeaten 209. Young, equally impressive, contributed 156 not out, reaching his century off 234 deliveries.The pair's partnership surpassed the previous highest third-wicket stand for Nottinghamshire against Somerset, set by Mike Harris and Sir Garfield Sobers in 1974. By tea, they had extended their lead to 20 runs, and the second new ball failed to make any impact after the interval.Young's superb square-driven four off Migael Pretorius brought up his century, and the partnership soon reached 300. Clarke joined the double-century club with a single off Lewis Goldsworthy, and the Notts lead continued to grow with every over.Somerset skipper Lewis Gregory tried various bowling options, but nothing could break the Notts pair's dominance. The record was broken in the final over when Young pulled a two off Pretorius. The crowd and the Somerset team applauded the duo as they walked off the field, having faced 303 and 304 balls respectively.Nottinghamshire's remarkable batting display has put them in a commanding position in the match. With a lead of 157 runs and two days remaining, they will be confident of securing a victory that would boost their hopes of promotion to Division One.

Somerset's Craig Overton made a triumphant return to form and fitness, leading the charge as his team bowled out Nottinghamshire for 193 on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship First Division clash at Taunton.Overton, who underwent back surgery during the winter, claimed 3 for 57 from 18 impressive overs, helping Somerset secure maximum bowling points after losing the toss. Only Matt Montgomery (48) and Joe Clarke (39) offered significant resistance for Nottinghamshire on a blustery day.Lewis Gregory and Migael Pretorius also contributed with two wickets each. By the close, Somerset had replied with 116 for 1, thanks to an opening stand of 111 between Sean Dickson (70 not out) and Matt Renshaw (34).The match began with a bizarre innings from Haseeb Hameed, who aimed an extravagant cover drive at the first ball but missed, left the second, and then dragged the third delivery onto his stumps with a repeat of his first shot.Ben Slater and Will Young were more cautious, taking the total to 49 before Overton deservedly claimed his first wicket, dismissing Slater for 25. Gregory then struck twice in the morning session, removing Young for 27 and Clarke for 39.Montgomery and Clarke steadied the Notts innings, but their partnership was broken when Clarke was caught at mid-wicket off Shoaib Bashir. Wickets fell steadily thereafter, with Jack Haynes, Montgomery, Calvin Harrison, Lyndon James, and Brett Hutton all departing.Pretorius picked up two wickets, while Overton returned to claim his third. Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 193 inside 63 overs.In reply, Somerset's openers Dickson and Renshaw put on a century stand, compiling 111 runs in 28.2 overs. Dickson led the way with some sweetly-timed shots, reaching his first Championship half-century at the Cooper Associates County Ground off 68 balls.Renshaw played a supporting role until edging a delivery to slip, but Somerset ended the day in a strong position, trailing by just 77 runs with nine wickets in hand.

Nottinghamshire's Vitality County Championship match against Worcestershire ended in a draw due to persistent rain and strong winds on the final day. The match, played at Trent Bridge, was poised for an exciting finish after Nottinghamshire collapsed from 125 for 1 to 144 for 7 on Sunday.Nottinghamshire had gained a first-innings lead of 44 runs, thanks to centuries from Ben Slater (70), Haseeb Hameed (105), and Liam James (96). However, Worcestershire fought back with a strong bowling performance, led by Kiwi Nathan Smith, who claimed four wickets in seven balls.With Nottinghamshire's lead reduced to 195 runs and only three wickets remaining, Worcestershire sensed an opportunity for victory. However, the weather intervened, and play was abandoned without a ball being bowled on the final day.Nottinghamshire took 14 points from the draw, while Worcestershire earned 13. The result leaves Nottinghamshire in fifth place in the Division One standings, while Worcestershire remains in eighth.The match was one of three in the East Midlands to be abandoned due to rain on the final day. Leicestershire's match against Glamorgan and Derbyshire's match against Northamptonshire also ended in draws.The weather has played a significant role in the Vitality County Championship season so far, with several matches being affected by rain and wind. This has led to a number of draws, which has made it difficult for teams to gain momentum and move up the standings.