SECONDS HANDED TROPHY DEFEAT

Nottinghamshire’s Second Eleven fell to a four-wicket defeat at the hands of the MCC Young Cricketers, thanks to an unbeaten 89 from Sam Arthurton.

Thanks to rain through the morning, the fifty over contest was reduced to 41, still one more than last year’s 40-over competition. The MCC won the toss, electing to field, but Alex Hales and Sam Kelsall started confidently. The pair passed 100 for the first wicket, Kelsall’s 50 arriving shortly before Hales was caught off Hampton for 31.

Samit Patel joined Kelsall, but the opener failed to capitalise further on his score, becoming Hampton’s second victim for a useful 62. Sam Wood and Patel took Notts past 150, before the latter was bowled in the 27^th over. Wickets fell steadily as the home side pushed to progress the score further, Wood, Adam Tillcock and Hassan Azad all departing in a good four-over spell for the MCC. 

Brett Hutton and captain Paul Franks took Notts past 200, the latter adding 20 before being bowled by Afaq Babar shortly afterward. Babar also bowled Hutton in the 40^th over, but Luke Wood and keeper Tom Keast navigated the nine remaining balls to close on 229-8 from the 41 overs allocated.

In reply, the MCC Young Cricketers navigated ten overs without loss, before Samit Patel had Chris Piesley caught by Brett Hutton in the eleventh, the visitors 45-1. Matt Renshaw joined opener Adam Hose but was caught behind off Sam Wood. Hose continued, reaching 50 in the 25^th over and 75 in the 32^nd, before Alex Hales caught him on the boundary off Brett Hutton’s bowling.

Samit Patel claimed his second, bowling Oliver Graham, but Sam Arthurton continued strongly, reaching 50 in the 38^th over, the MCC YC’s 200 following shortly afterwards. At the start of the 40^th, the visitors required 18 to win and Arthurton scored an excellent 19 off the deliveries, the last ball taking the score to 233-4, the visitors securing a four-wicket victory with an over to spare. Arthurton finished 89 not out.