ECB 50+ County Championship Final - Notts v Kent
by Nigel Turner, 9th September 2005

The County Championship Final between Notts and last season’s runners-up Kent was held at Central Avenue, Worksop, on Sunday. On a glorious September day, with the ground and wicket in excellent condition, a large crowd witnessed a good, hard fought game with the Kent side running out winners by 34 runs.

The visitors elected to bat first and made a steady start of 48 off 15 overs before the introduction of Gerry McMahon resulted in the breakthrough with Henderson Jordan holding onto a fine catch behind. However, Keith Wooding held the innings together despite the loss of a second wicket with the total on 82. The opener quietly accumulated an invaluable 107, which included eight fours, and he was only dismissed in the last over of the innings. Wooding received excellent support from his left handed skipper Chris Swadkin who made an undefeated 53 as the pair put on 118 runs off 21 overs.

Despite the very hot conditions the Notts fielding supported the impressive bowling attack superbly with Pete Fairhall producing some heroics on the cover boundary. Mel Wood was the most economical of the Notts bowlers, conceding just 28 runs off his nine overs.

The final Kent total of 210 represented a good effort but the Notts reply began positively with Jordan and Dave Coote being very severe on the new ball. The pair put on 45 trouble free runs before Jordan fell to a catch at short third man for 26. Coote and McMahon continued scoring fluently, but with the total on 100 they both fell with the former making 29 and the latter 36.

At this stage the home side required 111 runs to win off 25 overs. Some accurate spin bowling put a brake on the run rate to such an extent that when the final ten overs were to be be bowled the rate had grown to over eight runs. The middle and late order perished in the quest for quick runs with the off spin of Ramish Dwarka taking 3 for 32.

The Notts innings came to an end in the last over when Alan Bullock was caught and bowled by Chris Mendham for 15 and the all out total of 176 left the visitors deserved victors.

The season has been an outstanding success for Notts and they will be looking to build on it for the 2006 season. A special mention to Team Manager Joe Goodman for his sterling work and to Worksop, Cuckney and Caythorpe Cricket Clubs for their hospitality throughout the season.