Mullaney’s violent ton a memory as rain wins
SATURDAY’S heroics with the bat by Luke Fletcher and Steven Mullaney were all that were left for Nottinghamshire to savour as the rain at Lord’s ensured Middlesex got away with a draw yesterday.
Sam Robson’s century for the home side, combined with an afternoon downpour, denied Notts top spot in LV Insurance County Championship Division Two.
Robson’s resolute knock of 101 not out, supported by an even grittier unbeaten 18 from Max Holden, thwarted the Notts bowlers.
The Middlesex pair shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 101 to steer their side to 133-3 chasing a nominal target of 516 after they resumed at 69-3.
Holden had already been at the crease for more than two hours before he progressed into double figures but, although Stuart Broad beat the bat a number of times, the pair saw off his initial spell.
James Pattinson looked the most dangerous of the Notts seamers, one ball rearing up at Robson, brushing his glove but dropping short of Ben Duckett at second slip.
Robson fended off another rising delivery from Pattinson through the vacant third slip area to advance to 96 and leg-glanced the next one to the boundary as well, bringing up his hundred from 177 balls.
Broad switched to the Pavilion End for a second spell but the England man barely into his rhythm when rain arrived and the players left the field at 12.30pm. They were unable to return.
On Saturday, it had been wonderful viewing for Notts supporters.
Mullaney plundered a magnificent unbeaten 55-ball ton, littered with mighty blows, while Fletcher, having opened as nightwatchman on Friday evening, scored his second 50 of the match and Joe Clarke hit 66 not out before Notts declared on 295-5.
First innings centurion Haseeb Hameed departed early, slashing a wide ball from Toby Roland-jones to Robson at slip.
Fletcher, however, revelled in his role as night-watchman, planting a rare half-volley from Tim Murtagh into the grandstand. As in the first innings he departed to his next ball after reaching 50, trapped lbw by Martin Andersson.
Ben Duckett hit Luke Hollman for three fours in an over before attempting to reverse sweep the leg-spinner, only to send it down the throat of Peter Handscomb at long leg.
Hollman took a superb caught and bowled to remove Ben Slater and dislodged Lyndon James’ off-bail as well.
But it was carnage after that as Clarke moved to 50 in 73 balls – snail-like next to Mullanet, who hit Josh De Caires into the Warner Stand over cover as his half-century came in 31 balls.
Incredibly, he then accelerated, racing to 100 in another 24 balls, smiting Andersson for two sixes in an over and belting Hollman back over his head with a shot which struck the pavilion sightscreen.
Fletcher appeared again to have Mark Stoneman caught a slip for a second ball duck before bowling De Caires, also without scoring, off his glove.
Handscomb survived 46 minutes before edging James Pattinson to Duckett at second slip but it was all rendered academic by the last day’s weather.