Dane Paterson has made quite splash during his short time in West Bridgford, topped most recently by four match-winning wickets against Worcestershire as the Green and Golds won their third game on the bounce in convincing style.
“The feeling in the dressing room is unbelievable”, the South African said at the end of play on day four.
“Once we won our first game against Derbyshire, we got used to it. I told Pete Moores that the win was close after Warwickshire, that it was going to come. We have been ruthless.”
Paterson has made himself indispensable during his six games for the county, impressing with his pace and aggression. Having dismissed Worcestershire for 80 in their first innings, the paceman's hunger for wickets came to the fore in the second in helping to wrap up the victory
“Once we got through the main batters today I looked on the board, saw there were four wickets left and I thought to myself ‘I could get five here!’," he said.
“Broady [Stuart Broad] got the next wicket, but I smelt blood. That kept me going.”
Paterson has formed a formidable bowling unit with Broad, Luke Fletcher and Lyndon James in particular, the four-pronged pace attack having prevailed in their attempt to make their home venue a hunting ground, pleasingly for the 32-year-old.
“As a bowling unit, we said we wanted to make this place a fortress. When teams come here, we want to win game, and win games mentally, and we have done that in the past two games.
“We have goals as a unit, and when we get on top of teams, which we have been good at, we have done well.”
Paterson also took the crucial catch at square leg to dismiss Jake Libby, who looked set and provided stubborn resistance for the visitors in the second innings. The seamer’s vision was obscured by Ben Slater at short-leg but he reacted well to pick up the clip off the pads and spark a collapse.
It’s not the first time his fielding efforts have been heralded, with an outstanding one-handed catch at Derbyshire also stealing the headlines and endeared him to his team mates.
"We needed that," Paterson said of his catch to dismiss Libby, "he timed it quite well, which helped, but it just stuck, and they seem to be sticking at the moment!"
Next week presents the testing task of visiting Edgbaston to face Warwickshire, the only side to have beaten Notts this season but Paterson has challenged his teammates to maintain their winning streak.
“We are first in the group so all the focus should be on ourselves at the moment. We lose Stuart Broad [England duty], so it is important that everyone brings their own X Factor, because that will push us in the right direction in the next few games," he said.
“I am enjoying myself here. The important thing is that we focus on ourselves and don’t put any more pressure on. The boys are enjoying [the run]. It’s a good bunch of lads.”
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