In a performance described as ‘thoroughly professional’ by Peter Moores, Nottinghamshire began their new domestic campaign with a convincing victory over Cambridge MCCU at Fenner’s.
The new Head Coach was able to start his reign with a victory by 344 runs after the home side were bowled out for only 79 in their second innings.
Harry Gurney returned figures of four for 28, to give him eight wickets in the match. Samit Patel and Stuart Broad each took two wickets, whilst there were also strikes for Luke Wood and Luke Fletcher.
"Most of the bowlers have got two or three spells in," said Peter Moores, "and a few of the lads have been able to spend some realy good time at the crease."
Notts declared their second innings closed on 207 for two at lunch on the final day. Riki Wessels and Jake Libby batted together through the entire morning session, adding 161.
Wessels, who scored a century in the corresponding match last season, finished on 90 not out, whilst Libby was unbeaten on 79.
Nottinghamshire began the day on 46 for two in their second innings, an overall lead of 262. Jake Libby and Riki Wessels were at the crease, resuming their innings, on 16 and 11 respectively.
In perfect, almost summery, conditions both batsmen began positively against an early diet of left arm pace from one end and spin from the other.
Sixty - evenly shared - runs came in the first 40 minutes, before Wessels took over as the aggressor. Twice he hit back-to-back fours to add to the earlier six he’d hit off Luke Chapman as he reached 50 from 65 balls, with seven boundaries. The home side were clearly being made to pay for spilling him on three on the second evening.
Libby had remained chanceless as he brought up his own half century, getting there soon afterwards from 135 balls, with five fours.
In the final half hour of the session both players accelerated, taking the stand to a new county third wicket record of 180 against any Cambridge University representative side.
The final over before lunch saw them go past the 169 that Merv Winfield and Keith Miller had put on at Trent Bridge in 1956.
As the players left the field Chris Read confirmed the declaration, giving Notts two sessions to try and begin the new campaign with a win.
Cambridge’s openers found the going a little tricky, needing 23 deliveries before the first run arrived. Both Stuart Broad and Luke Fletcher were right on the mark but it was the England man who forged the breakthrough.
Harry Palmer edged to third slip, where Greg Smith took a sharp catch around waist-height. This was a prelude to the next over, when the same combination removed Tom Colverd for nought. Smith had to dive smartly away to his right to pluck the ball one-handed.
Luke Wood entered the attack and immediately made it 19 for three by trapping Calum Guest lbw.
Akil Greenidge played one or two wristy flicks but was undone by Gurney and popped one into the off side where Broad swooped to take one-handed.
From 35 for four it became 38 for five as Adil Arif charged at Samit Patel and was left stranded as Read whipped off the bails.
The skipper added another victim to his illustrious tally when Tim Moses nibbled at Gurney and provided a simple offering, leaving the students seven wickets down at tea.
Gurney’s momentum wasn’t lost during the interval as he had Chapman caught by Hales in the gully soon after.
Joe Tetley top-scored with 42 but was the ninth to fall, as he edged behind and a sharp catch by Wessels closed out the contest, as Fletcher delivered the final blow.
"It’s always nice to win," said the Head Coach, "and the pleasing thing is that we caught really well. Ready (Chris Read) kept well as he always does and it was a good work-out for all the bowlers. Nice to win, so yes, a good start."
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