Jake Libby helped make up for losing most of last season through injury, by scoring a very impressive century on the opening day of Nottinghamshire’s two day match against Hampshire at Windward Cricket Club.
In energy-sapping conditions the young opener batted throughout Nottinghamshire’s 60 overs to finish unbeaten on 103, having reached his milestone from the penultimate ball of the innings.
Notts closed on 179 for two, with Michael Lumb’s 27 being the chief support for Libby. Leg spinner Mason Crane took both wickets to fall, to claim figures of two for 24.
After tea Hampshire reached 95 for one, from their 30 over allocation, with Tom Alsop making 50 not out.
Bowling coach Andy Pick expressed satisfaction at what he’d seen throughout the day. “Its been a good work-out for us,” he said. “Obviously it makes a difference to have good facilities and good conditions and it’s looked like a first class game today.
“It’s nice to get the whites on and start building up towards the championship opener against Surrey.”
Pick praised the efforts of the centurion. “It was hot out there and there wasn’t a lot of pace in the wicket, so it wasn’t as if he could use the pace off the ball. He applied himself very well, he likes to bat for long periods and as a first class batter that’s a good quality to have.
“He had his hundred, the year before last, and everybody was looking forward to last season. Obviously for him to get injured, as he did, it took the wind out of his sails a bit, but hopefully this will be the start of him picking up where he left off before the injury.”
When Notts bowled in the final session there was more for Pick to admire. “It was good to see Jack Blatherwick and Ben Kitt run in and bowl quickly. It’s nice to think that we’ve got another layer below the lads that came on last year. They’ve given a good account of themselves and we’ve had a decent day all in all, but will be looking for more of the same tomorrow.”
Under a warm morning sun Nottinghamshire began their red ball season with Libby and Brendan Taylor out in the middle, facing Hampshire’s left am duo of James Tomlinson and Chris Wood.
Taylor stroked the first boundary of the day, hitting Wood sweetly down the ground and away over the bobbly outfield.
It was soon apparent that the former Zimbabwe captain wasn’t feeling at his best and physio Jon Alty spent time with him at the end of the eighth over.
Reports of him feeling unwell became apparent shortly afterwards when Taylor retired hurt on 9, with the score on 18.
Lumb replaced the opener and helped cement a solid start, taking the total to 25 without loss at drinks.
Libby began to accelerate nicely in the second half of the first session and ran Sean Ervine down to third man for the four to bring up a well-made half century. His only alarm had been on 44, when he clipped Brad Taylor firmly off his legs and into the body of Alsop at short leg. There was no chance for the fielder but Libby would, nonetheless, have been pleased to see the ball go to ground.
News of lunch being late wasn’t universally greeted with enthusiasm by the fielding side, who had toiled away manfully in suppressive conditions. Their reward was forthcoming in the 15 minutes that were added at the end of the session though, as Lumb square cut Crane’s leg spin straight to Gareth Berg at point, for a stylish 27.
Resuming on 54, Libby continued to bat impressively in tandem with Steven Mullaney after lunch before Crane struck for the second time.
After spending almost an hour in the middle, Mullaney miscued a pull off Crane and ballooned the ball high to Jimmy Adams at midwicket. He’d made 10.
Greg Smith, undefeated in the weekend’s T20 success, with scores of 74 and 67, carried his bat to the end of the innings again, reaching 18 not out.
The closing passage of the innings was all about Libby’s pursuit of three figures.
Alsop put down a real stinger of a cut at gully when the right-hander had made 71. Like his earlier effort, it was a half chance at best.
After losing the strike for almost three overs Libby got back to face midway through the final over, on 93 not out. He danced down the track to hit Brad Taylor through long on for four, then skipped towards him again to launch a mighty six towards the palm trees circling the boundary. A very impressive hundred had been reached in 218 minutes, having faced 164 balls, with 12 fours and that one maximum.
When the south coast side batted after tea they soon lost Michael Carberry, clipping Luke Wood into the hands of Lumb at midwicket for 6.
With a couple of players nursing injuries, Taylor feeling unwell and several others away at the practice ground, physio Alty took to the field to supplement the dwindling numbers and competently patrolled fine leg at each end.
Alsop and Adams batted through to the close, despite being put under pressure from the Nottinghamshire attack, which featured two young quicks.
Ben Kitt shared the new ball with Luke Wood and finished with nought for 29 from seven overs, before giving way to Jack Blatherwick, who sent down a very lively spell of 5-1-14-0.
The second day of the match will feature a role-reversal, with Hampshire batting for the first 60 overs and then Notts batting for 30.
Fidel Edwards, who enjoyed great success against Notts in 2015, is expected to be available for Hampshire.
The 2015 season saw dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.