Nottinghamshire Make Strong Start To County Championship

02/05/2025 09:48 Share

Nottinghamshire Make Strong Start To County Championship

A strong start to the 2025 season leaves Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club sitting pretty at the top of the County Championship after an unbeaten start to the campaign in April.

Having finished eighth in the standings last year, the Vertu-backed side has already matched its tally of wins from the 2024 campaign after the first four games and things could have been even better had the weather not worked against them.

The first game of the season saw Durham visit Trent Bridge, with Colin Ackermann positing the first century of the campaign as he helped the visitors to 378 in the first innings – with Fergus O’Neill bagging five wickets.

Three late wickets on the second day left Nottinghamshire still trailing by 81 runs with five wickets down but a fine knock of 125 from Lyndon James – and four half centuries elsewhere in the order – saw Notts secure a first innings lead of just over 200.

Although Ackermann hit his second century of the game when Durham went back in to bat, 5-66 from Josh Tongue – including a spell of four wickets in twelve balls – made the difference as it left Notts needing just 89 to win; a target that was reached with ease.

Having been put in by Essex in the second game of the season, Notts appeared to be in trouble with the bat having been reduced to 78-5 but Kyle Verreynne hit an unbeaten 128 to help steer his side to 347 all out.

Essex were able to take a slender lead after the first innings with Haseeb Hameed and Ben Slater putting on 113 for the first wicket when Nottinghamshire went into bat a second time.

Jack Haynes then built on the solid foundation laid down by the opening pair with his first Nottinghamshire century as the hosts set up a draw to make it two games unbeaten.

Rain would then prevent Nottinghamshire from building on a fine performance with the ball at Edgbaston, with the game against Warwickshire seeing less than ten overs of play on the opening day.

O’Neill took 5-19 with Brett Hutton taking 5-38 as Nottinghamshire bowled the home side for just 93 before Hameed carried his bat with 138 not out in a reply of 367 to take a healthy lead.

The rain would ultimately prevent a result from being possible however, with a defensive rearguard from the Warwickshire batsmen leading to a second successive drawn game.

Returning to Trent Bridge for the final game of the month, Nottinghamshire were in dominant form against Sussex, who were bowled out in the first innings for just 169 as Josh Tongue picked up a five wicket haul for the second successive game.

After 85 from Hameed steering Nottinghamshire to 300 and a comfortable lead in the first innings, Sussex were skittled out for 278 next time around before Hameed and Ben Duckett helped the home to reach their victory target for the loss of a single wicket.

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