I have to admit that when I saw the news tickertape scrolling across the bottom of the screen in the pub yesterday I stood there gobsmacked. Firstly, I hadn't noticed that they had changed the channel to put the cricket on (last time I'd looked up from the paper Inspector Morse was on). Secondly, as only an hour earlier when I last checked the scores on the internet it didn't look as though Notts had a chance of getting the required bonus points.
Somehow, in that hour Notts had not only reached 400 runs to give them maximum batting points (starting the day 89-2 with no bonus points at all), they had also gained enough bowling points to tie with Somerset (who were set for a draw but with maximum bonus points) and take the title due to more wins. Notts were required to take 3 wickets in the remaining 16 overs of the day. To demonstrate how much Notts were reluctant to lose the title as a result of a heavily rain affected game, the wickets tumbled in only 4.4 overs.
Now, congratulations to Notts on pulling victory from almost certain disappointment, but surely it shouldn't have waited until the very last hour of the championship to win the title. From being dominant for the majority of the season, coming into the final straight they seemed to lose their nerve and with 2 disappointing defeats going into the last game all seemed to be going wrong. Instead of having a nice comfortable lead Notts went into the final game only 2 points ahead on Somerset. With the first day almost completely written off by rain it didn't start too well for either club. Unfortunately for Notts, the sun came out in Durham whilst in Manchester the rain still fell - all day. With the third day also heavily affected by downpours it looked as though it was all over for Notts. Somerset started the final day having achieved a maximum 8 bonus points to Notts' 0. So for Notts to pull the required result from the fire is an even more commendable achievement.
Well done, but please don't do that to me again next year.
