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Friends Provident Trophy 2007

2007 was the second season in which this 50 overs competition was arranged as two equal ‘conferences’ with the leaders meeting in the knock-out finals. In 2006 Notts won four out of nine matches and finished in fourth place in the Northern Conference.

Last summer six matches were won and third place attained, still not high enough to move into the knock-out section. In the event the crucial game was against Durham at the Riverside on June 10th. Immediately prior to this, Durham led the field with 12 points, Notts were second with 11 and Warwickshire in third place with 10.

Fleming won the toss and elected to bat. The captain was in fact the only batsman to make any really significant contribution to the team total, hitting a splendid 98. No one else could even muster 30. However the Notts bowlers appeared to have mastered the Durham batting, that was until Breese, the West Indian, launched forth. With his assault, Durham crept home by one wicket. That was the penultimate match.

When it came to the final round, it so happened that Durham opposed Warwickshire. Notts did win their match, but the runners-up place was finally decided when Warwickshire upset the form book and beat Durham, thus moving the Edgbaston side a point ahead of Notts.

The team started the competition with Gallian and Shafayat as openers, but the arrival of Fleming meant that Gallian dropped out and Fleming promoted himself to start proceedings. Wagh and Hussey followed the first pair. The Australian had not been too prolific in this 50 overs game in 2006, but last year he  showed much better form, whilst Wagh batted just as he did in the Championship.

Patel came in at no.5 and Read at no.6,  they provided when needed some quick and cheerful runs just before the overs ran out – Notts were only dismissed once during the campaign.
Ealham proved the most successful bowler, though Sidebottom had the odd experience of being the most econonical of the attack, but only securing a single wicket. The spinners, Swann and Ferley were parsimonious.

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