WELBECK AND NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ACADEMY IN RAIN AFFECTED DRAW

Jake Libby scored a half-century, but it wasn’t enough as Nottinghamshire's rain-affected match against Welbeck ended in a draw.

The visitors won the toss at the Notts Sports Club and opted to bat first, Matt Higgins and captain Simon Widdup getting the game underway. The Academy kept the bowling tight early on, and had the breakthrough seven overs in, Ben Kitt getting the first of his two wickets, trapping Widdup LBW for eight runs.

His batting partner was out next over, Higgins failing to gather any momentum with the bat before departing LBW to Simon Walton after scoring five, leaving Welbeck 19-2.

Andrew Parkin-Coates and Richard Stroh began to find rhythm, firing their side to 49-2, that was before Parkin-Coates was caught and bowled by Connor Marshall, breaking the partnership of 30.

Marshall had his second wicket, claiming Greg Herbert for 16 as the Academy bowler was hit to short mid-off, and Anuj Dal took an excellent low catch to leave the visitors 89-4.

Tom Lungley came in and established a partnership with Stroh, firing the visitors back in contention after a slow start. Stroh passed his half-century off 91 balls, including two fours. Lungley too was scoring runs at good rate, hitting 36 before being dismissed by Adam Tillock; Welbeck 154-5 at this point.

Simon Webster came into the attack and claimed two quick-fire wickets, firstly dismissing Jonathan Ball as he edged Webster behind to wicketkeeper Tom Keast. Webster then dismissed Robert French in the same over, Ben Kitt taking the catch at mid-off.

Kitt claimed his second wicket as Lewis Cameron was caught by Dal for one, only for David Hunt and Stroh to bat out the remaining overs and post a score of 212-8 from the visitors' 50 overs, Stroh finshing on on 86 not out whilst Hunt ended 18 not out.

Jake Libby and Tom Moores got the Academy’s innings underway, and made an impressive start, posting 78 before Ball ran out Moores for 41.

Ball then claimed two wickets with the ball. Tom Keast, who failed to add to the Academy’s total, was clean bowled and Dal was caught behind for two, leaving the hosts 84-3.

Tillock came in to partner Libby and began to put the home side back on track, Libby firing beyond his half-century in the 32^nd over before rain stopped play and forced the match to be abandoned as a draw, with the hosts on 132-3.

The result means the academy received nine points, whilst Welbeck secured ten.