SAM DALLING AT LORD'S: The Nottinghamshire bowler scored a half-century at No.11 and as an opener at Lord's and heads into day four with second-innings figures of 2 for 6 from nine overs
When Luke Fletcher strolls in, all six-foot plenty of him and a beaming smile, it is impossible not to notice. As he crosses from one side of a room to the other he is invariably stopped for selfies with, and warm words of congratulations from, well-wishers. Naturally, he obliges, grinning without fail.
On Friday, Fletcher had what Bullwell residents would term 'a day'. A half-century batting at jack, having been the last of the 22 players to step onto the pitch. It was a vital tenth-wicket partnership with Stuart Broad too, taking Nottinghamshire past 400. Then came a typically excellent spell or two with the ball, all glazed with a swoop and direct hit to run out Josh de Caires.
24-hours later and that reference to a 'day' has become plural. Fletcher may have entered late, but he has had his fair share of limelight since. No-one had ever made fifty both opening the batting and batting at 11 in a first-class fixture. Fletcher now has.
He embodies what people love about county cricket. A character yes, the life and soul in fact, but more, much more, than that: Fletcher is a talented cricketer. When Broad took the final Middlesex wicket at dusk on Friday, Fletcher rocketed up the steps into the grand old Pavillion. Like a child who had just unwrapped a new Christmas toy, he re-appeared ten minutes later limbering up ready to survive the final over.
And so, to morning where his work was better than that of a nightwatchman. Having lost Haseeb Hameed early, Ben Slater was happy to play a watchful understudy to Fletcher’s leading role. Toby Roland-Jones was tickled past fine leg, Ethan Bamber was driven gloriously through the covers. When the latter strayed too straight, he was whipped and then clipped through the vast green expenses to the foot of the Tavern Stand.
Nottinghamshire skipper Steven Mullaney also had a day to remember, blasting 100 not out from 58 balls [Tony Marshall/Getty Images]
Tim Murtagh was miserly until Fletcher swatted him with disdain into the Grandstand. The boundary is barely 50 yards but the ball disappeared for a few minutes. Eventually, Mark Stoneman won the scavenger hunt down near the Nursery Ground.
Fletcher had reached 51 when trapped lbw by Martin Andersson. According to the Nottinghamshire analyst, the 'Bulwell bomber' had completed just 10 threes in 133 games. A further four were added at Lord’s. More 'Bulwell Bradman' then.
Later, with Lord’s bathed in mid-May sunshine, Fletcher would reprise his opening role. This time with ball in hand he required two deliveries to nick off Stoneman. Lyndon James - Nottinghamshire’s only Sheffield United supporter - took the catch and was warmly embraced by a gaggle of teammates. Minutes earlier they would have been goading James following Nottingham Forest’s opener.
De Caires would not last much longer, his stumps shattered for a second time in the match by Fletcher. 0 for 2. Never mind the 516-run victory target; Saturday’s close looked lightyears away.
Some resistance followed but there was still no home comfort for Peter Handscomb who for a second time lost the all Victorian battle. James Pattinson found the edge, Ben Duckett held the catch.
Handscomb had talked up Robson for an England return, and he batted patiently for an unbeaten 51 (109) by close.
Another surely due another England go is Duckett. He had added pre-lunch impetus earlier, reverse sweeping a trio of boundaries from Luke Hollman before the young leg-spinner had his revenge, Duckett trying one too many and finding Peter Handscomb at deep point.
That had ensured a swelling of Nottinghamshire’s lead to 333 by lunch. By the time skipper Steven Mullaney called time on their second innings, it had become 515.
For Middlesex a record chase then, well in excess of the 370 they made at Hove a week or so back.
50: first innings
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 14, 2022
51: second innings
Luke Fletcher becomes the first player in first-class cricket to score fifties batting at number 11 in one innings and then opening the batting in the other
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For Mullaney an innings to cherish. He had just brought up a quick fire hundred in fitting fashion, poor Bamber disappearing into the Grandstand - not for the first time either. Eight sixes in total in Mullaney’s innings of 100. Three figures arrived in just 55 balls. Merciless.
Bamber twice in an over was swept and then pulled over the ropes from around the wicket. Mullaney had toyed with the young seamer, taking guard well outside off stump and flashing plenty of leg. And if Bamber had failed to notice, Mullaney waved and invited him to try to breach the defences.
Hollman was another to suffer the same fate from Mullaney, back-to-back sixes coming inside out over cover, before a huge straight strike into the Pavillion. The clang echoed around NW8, ball and sight screen colliding painfully.
Mullaney had support from Joe Clarke who avoided a pair to finish on 66 unbeaten. Their unbroken sixth-wicket partnership yielded 138 from only 105.
This defeat - when it comes - will be chastening one for Middlesex. Toby Roland-Jones was superb but the rest of their attack was a little one-paced. They missed Shaheen Shah Afridi and Tom Helm greatly.
Hollman picked up three wickets but offered little control. There are many differences between the two sides but the run rate at which the tweakers went is a key one. He was not helped by Peter Hanscomb who bowled him at odd times. Is all experience, good experience? Thilan Walallawita time perhaps.
A word on the Dukes too. In each innings the ball has required replacing ahead of time. This evening it came as early as the eighth over. Something has been altered with the stitching and the batch is duff. This is no isolated issue.
An update to the 'Tales from the Front Line', Fletcher’s autobiography, will soon be with the printers, detailing a summer in which he topped the County Championship wicket charts and was named one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year.
Hold the press. A further rewrite is required.
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