Hat-trick hero Jake puts Notts’ noses in front
Nottinghamshire 241 & 240 Middlesex 247 & 48-3 - Stumps, Day Three
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE’S Jake Ball lit up a gloomy Tuesday evening at Trent Bridge with the first hat-trick of his career.
The England pace man, who won his first Test cap earlier this summer, struck in devastating fashion on his return to the county ranks.
For only the second time in the county’s history, one of their bowlers picked up three wickets in a row in the opening over of an innings. After Notts had posted 241, after being asked to bat first, Ball removed Sam Robson, Ollie Rayner and Nick Compton to leave the Division One leaders staring at a scoreboard that read 0-3.
“It was all a bit of a blur to be honest,” said the 25-year old. “We said in the dressing room that we had to go out and try and hit them hard and try and pick up a wicket but to take three – and get the hattrick – was extra special.”
Sam Robson was first to go, edging the third ball of the innings to slip. “It was a great catch from Steven Mullaney to get Robson out and then to get the other two was even better,” said Ball.
“With Rayner it was a case of getting it straight as the ball was coming out of my hand nicely, so it was just a case of getting it close and thankfully he missed it.
“It seemed like an age before the Compton delivery but it just added to the occasion. The crowd were going wild and then to see him leave it and the umpire stick his finger up, it just set me off on my lap of honour.
“It was a good feeling, one of the moments you dream of and another thing that I’ve been able to tick off. I’ve been close a couple of times but now to finally get it, I was over the moon.”
Emotions were very different in the visitors’ dressing room but Richard Scott, Middlesex’s head coach, was proud of how his side fought back on the second day.
“We fought back from 0-3 to get ourselves back in the game and now we’re looking to put them under pressure. Obviously we would love to win this game but there is a lot of cricket left to be played yet.”
Going into the final weeks of the season Middlesex are challenging strongly for their first title since 1993 and Scott feels his side are worthy contenders.
“We have remained unbeaten all season and the table doesn’t lie at the end of August,” he said.“We still need to see where this game is going to take us but we will be fighting every day that remains in the season to try and pull something off that would mean masses to the squad.
“There are 11 blokes playing in this game but it has been a real squad effort. It would mean so much to them and for the coaching staff that has supported them and for the board that has supported everyone. And, of course, there are the supporters.
“Everyone wants it to happen but we have got to keep our feet on the ground and take it session by session and if we play as well as we have done all season then good things will happen for us but nothing is guaranteed.”
Middlesex’s Nick Gubbins maintained his fine recent form with a battling innings of 75 on the second day and he feels the onus will be on the home side to try and force a result from this game.
“The way we see things is that Nottinghamshire have to win and so they have to make the game now,” said Gubbins.“We are going to try and do our best to get a win as well but they have got to make the game and we will respond to whatever they do.”