Dane Paterson became the first Nottinghamshire bowler since 2010 to collect an eight-wicket haul as the Green and Golds hit the front on day one against Worcestershire.
The 32-year-old, steaming in unchanged for a 15-over spell either side of lunch, collected career-best figures of 8-52 as the visitors were dismissed for 159 having been put in to bat at Trent Bridge.
Fluent half-centuries from Ben Duckett (50 off 39 balls) and Haseeb Hameed (53 off 56) helped the home side into a first innings lead as they closed the day on 203/7.
On a cold and dull day, on a pitch featuring a tinge of green, the Pears got off to a positive but frenetic start, with the returning Jake Libby having already collected 15 from 13 balls before nicking a good one from Stuart Broad through to the keeper.
Ed Pollock’s tendency for all-out attack spelled danger for Steven Mullaney’s men; the former Warwickshire dasher striking five fours and a leg side swipe for six on his way to 31 off 32 deliveries, with the total cantering to 49 in the opening nine overs of the day.
The introduction of Paterson, however, provided an immediate turning point; the former South African international’s first ball inducing a nick that was sharply pouched by Lyndon James at slip.
The prized wicket of Azhar Ali, caught behind for six, followed – with Brett D’Oliveira (10) suffering an identical fate ten overs later, making the score 100-4.
Ed Barnard’s last-ditch attempt to leave a short of a length delivery only succeeded in cannoning the ball into the stumps, as lunch was taken with Notts in the ascendancy with the score on 114-5.
Ben Cox (2), perhaps still smarting from a painful blow to the midriff, was trapped on the crease lbw shortly after the interval to complete Paterson’s five-wicket haul.
Jack Haynes (37) nicked a ball that left him into the gloves of Tom Moores, Josh Baker (12) lobbed a tame catch to Broad at mid-on and – when Charlie Morris’s stumps were splayed by one that kept low to depart for a single – Paterson’s personal best was secured.
Dylan Pennington (18) provided a modicum of lower-order resistance before a bottom-edge through to Moores provided Luke Fletcher with his first wicket of the contest, consigning the visitors to 159 all out having lost their final seven wickets for 59 runs.
Nottinghamshire’s response began with a chanceless opening stand of 70 between Hameed and Ben Slater (24), before Libby ran out the previous week’s double centurion with a bullet throw from the boundary.
Hameed had glided serenely to a half-century, only for his attempted cut stroke off Adam Finch to nestle into the gloves of Cox behind the stumps.
Ben Duckett’s imperious performance came to an end when he nicked an attempted drive off the bowling of Pennington; 144-3.
Joe Clarke (18) and Lyndon James (19) each got starts batting at a more classical red-ball tempo before each falling to slip catches off Barnard.
The all-rounder’s double breakthrough sandwiched the departure of Mullaney (7), who was also caught at slip off the bowling of Charlie Morris. The demise of Liam Patterson-White, run out by a direct hit from Josh Baker for seven, left Nottinghamshire 184/7 with eight over of the day to go.
With Tom Moores and Stuart Broad stoutly surviving until bad light stopped play with three overs to go, Nottinghamshire will return to their historic home tomorrow with a slender but potentially significant lead on the back of a rollercoaster opening day.
Judging by Paterson’s wicket celebrations, it’s fair to say that he is very much enjoying the ride.
The scorecard in full, together with highlights clips and other statistical insights, is available to view here…
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Be More Outlaw: The 2022 Vitality Blast at Trent Bridge
Notts Outlaws, the 2017 and 2020 Vitality Blast winners, return to T20 action at Trent Bridge this summer from Friday 27 May to Friday 1 July. Pin your green and gold colours to the mast by securing your seats now.
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Friday 27 May, Notts Outlaws vs Worcestershire Rapids: Secure your seats…
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