NCL2: Cairns inspires Notts

National Cricket League Division Two
Derbyshire Scorpions v Nottinghamshire Outlaws
County Ground, Derby
Wednesday, 23 July, 2003

Chris Cairns, the New Zealand all-rounder with the question mark hanging over his International future, showed just how destructive he can be at the County Ground in Derby tonight with a systematic demolition of the hosts' bowling attack after it seemed that Derbyshire had the game won.

Richard Logan's start with the ball for the Nottinghamshire Outlaws left much to be desired - sixteen, including four wides, off the game's first (and his only) over. This left Michael Di Venuto in prime position for and onslaught, and he and Steve Selwood put on a century opening partnership before Selwood (35) was run out with the score, disconcertingly, on 111. Di Venuto and Chris Bassano then kept the Scorpions moving onwards and upwards, but although Di Venuto (76 off 64 balls) fell, caught and bowled by Stephen Randall, Mohammad Kaif (12) and Dominic Cork (22 off just 10 balls) kept the hosts well on top.

There they remained until Gareth Clough removed Cork, and Paul Franks bowled Bassano (41) to leave the hosts on 210-5. From then on the lower order and tail perished as Franks (4/12 off 3 overs) kept the ball straight and let the Derbyshire batsmen miss. Dominic Hewson's 17 was the sole contribution of any note as Derbyshire set 244/9 off their 42 overs. the rain once again having conspired to knock three overs a side off the scheduled playing time.

Yet for all the world it seemed like Derbyshire were cruising to victory once Dominic Cork and Graeme Welch had removed Jason Gallian (30) and pinch-hitter Franks (26). Nathan Dumelow kept it exceptionally tight, his first eight overs going for just 18 runs, as well as taking the wickets of Russell Warren (18) and Usman Afzaal (33), neither of whom managed to keep up with the asking rate. When Tom Lungley had Kevin Pietersen (20) caught behind by Luke Sutton, Nottinghamshire were 135/5 and the asking rate was approaching ten an over.

Enter Cairns and young England wicketkeeper-batsman Chris Read. Between them, with Cairns at the foremost, they took spinner Dumelow for 15 off his final over, including the first boundaries he had conceded (incredibly, both sixes from the kiwi's blade) before extending their attack to the other Scorpions bowlers. Only Dominic Cork (1/38) could keep any control over the onslaught, and Tom Lungley in particular was singled out for heavy treatment, 21 coming off a single over with the stump microphones picking up a verbal battering that Glenn McGrath would have been proud of. Mohammad Kaif didn't help matters by depositing a high catch onto the County Ground turf.

It took Cairns 28 balls to reach fifty, and he only scored a single off his first eight. From a seemingly inescapable position, Nottinghamshire needed 23 off 24 balls and were suddenly in the box seat. This was no cue for either Cairns (61*, 44 balls, 6 fours and 3 sixes) or Read (39*, 32 balls, 5 fours) to ease off the accelerator, and so the target was reached with a whole over to spare, 110 runs coming off 70 balls in the match-winning partnership.

Derbyshire 244/9 (MJ Di Venuto 76, CWG Bassano 41, PJ Franks 4/12)

Nottinghamshire 245/5 (CL Cairns 66*, CMW Read 39*, NRC Dumelow 2/33)

Nottinghamshire won by 5 wickets (D/L)

Points; Nottinghamshire 4, Derbyshire 0

CricketWeb Player of the Match: Chris Cairns (Nottinghamshire)

Posted by Neil