Brett Hutton says what he lacks in pace and bounce, he’ll continue to make up for in effort after claiming three wickets on day two against Middlesex.
Hutton took 3-54 from 18 overs as the league leaders were limited to 247 all out in reply to the home side’s 241.
The homegrown right-armer believes, on a pitch that’s spinning and offering variable bounce, the home side are in the ascendancy with two days to go.
“It was a tough day in the sense that we were out there for a long time and they tried to grind us out,” he said.
“But, as a group and fielding unit, we tried to stick at it the best we could and get wickets that way.
“It is always nice to bowl with the new ball, when it is a little bit harder and there’s more chance of it swinging. Every seamer wants to do that.”
Hutton’s main adversary on the day was Middlesex opening batsman Nick Gubbins, who scored an attritional 75 off 226 balls and had just eased a duo of crisp boundaries, when the Notts all-rounder pulled out a brute of a delivery to finally get his man.
“It wasn’t hard to focus as you felt we were controlling the pace of the game. If you keep bowling well and then grab a few wickets, you are right back in it.
“If they were racing along at fives the game can get away from you quite quickly. He batted nicely but I think we controlled it well.
“It was obviously nice to get him out whilst he was set and to expose the tail at the same time, opening them up to Imran Tahir’s spin and Jake Ball’s pace.
“I think we are in a good position, the boys batted really positively in that mini session there which puts us in a good place; back in front.
“Hopefully if they continue to do that and fight hard tomorrow, through the morning session, we will see how many we can get.
“There is a bit of spin out there and you would imagine on day four it would spin a bit more.
“As many runs as we can get puts them under pressure. They are going for the league and feel like they have to chase it, so the more runs we get the better.”
Jake Ball added two further wickets to his opening day hat-trick to complete his third career five-wicket haul, and Hutton was full of praise for his fellow fast bowler.
“Obviously Jake is an inspiration to the younger bowlers, he has worked hard an put the hours in to get where he has got and he deserves that. He shows his class to come back and get the hat trick and top it off with a five-fer we are all really pleased for him.
“I am not blessed with the sort of pace and bounce that Jake gets, its more a case of perseverance and effort to make sure I get the most out of what I have got. Whatever Ready and the team want of me I will do my best.
“I don’t mind the long spells if I am bowling nicely and Ready wants me to keep going. I am never going to try and shy away from it and say just four overs for me please."
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