Date-stamped : 25 May97 - 06:15 Patience pays for Clarke and Jones By Neil Hallam at Trent Bridge First day of four: Derbyshire 283-5 v Nottinghamshire PATIENCE, selectivity and keen eyesight were the attributes of greatest value as Derbyshire went some way towards redeeming an erratic start to the season by grafting to 283 for five in murky light and on a pitch of deepest green. Derbyshire captain Dean Jones demonstrated the necessary restraint on a sluggish pitch by taking more than four hours over his unbeaten 71, which included six fours, and he was given disciplined support by Vince Clarke, the former Somerset and Leicestershire leg-spinner. Notts, who were again unable to call on their new overseas signing, Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Zahid, because of his persistent back problem, had only the left-arm spin of Usman Afzaal to relieve five varieties of seam. Kim Barnett became the first Derbyshire batsman to complete 2,000 runs against one county before he glanced too finely to leg, Adrian Rollins was dislodged by some extra bounce and Derbyshire were in need of retrenchment when Chris Adams` forcing stroke carried to mid-on. Matt Cassar, an Australian all-rounder who has achieved residential qualification this season, left cursing a flat-footed slash but Jones and Clarke eschewed such excess in a fourth- wicket stand worth 112 in 29 overs before Clarke was undone by a degree of extra bounce. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Afzaal fuels great expectations By Neil Hallam at Trent Bridge Second day of four: Derbyshire (319 & 2-1) lead Notts(192) by 129 runs USMAN Afzaal and Paul Franks, teenagers for whom Nottinghamshire predict high-achieving careers, made such confidence appear well-placed with a mature and resourceful ninth-wicket stand of 64 to confound Derbyshire`s hopes of enforcing the follow-on with a lead near to 200 runs. At 128 for eight and with Tim Robinson, their most durable batsman, nursing a right hand broken in the field the previous day, Notts` prospects seemed uninviting. Yet the competitive character which earned their first championship win in 11 months against Lancashire last weekend resurfaced to frustrate Derbyshire and trim the deficit to 127. Afzaal, born in Rawalpindi 19 years ago but raised in Nottinghamshire, confirmed with his third consecutive championship half-century the potential indicated with no fewer than three career-best performances at Old Trafford - unbeaten innings of 70 and 77, and three for 79 with his left- arm spin. Franks, 18, a seamer from Mansfield, offered unflinching support for 27 overs; an object lesson here for some whose resolve wilted during Devon Malcolm`s withering opening spell. Malcolm`s four for 42 took him to the 30-wicket mark in first- class matches; not so much a nudge as a sharp poke in the ribs for the England selectors. Ashley Metcalfe and Paul Pollard were struck on the hand, the latter suffering a broken finger, and Derbyshire`s contention that Malcolm is unique among fast bowlers in generating such pace at the age of 34 was hard to dispute as Notts lapsed to 31 for three on a sluggish pitch. Notts` pugnacious captain, Paul Johnson, halted the decline with his third con- secutive championship half- century before whipping uppishly to midwicket, and Notts were still 15 runs shy of the follow-on when Afzaal, then 29, was put down at first slip by Dean Jones off Andrew Harris. The innings folded when Afzaal `lost` a full toss and Franks was brilliantly held down the leg side, but Derbyshire`s mood was further deflated when opener Adrian Rollins fell lbw for a duck. Derbyshire, who had resumed their first innings at 283 for five, lost their remaining wickets for the addition of only 36 runs with a spell of four for 24 from seamer Mark Bowen giving him a career-best seven for 75. Two more catches for Wayne Noon earned a one-tenth share of the Notts record of six in an innings. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Notts in line for campaign medal By Neil Hallam at Trent Bridge Third day of four: Notts (192-7 & 122-5) need 123 runs to beat Derbys (319 & 117) NOTTINGHAMSHIRE will be due an award for gallantry to go with a haul of 20 points if they overcome a catalogue of misfortune to beat Derbyshire on a sporting Trent Bridge pitch today. The sustained penetration of Notts` seamers, including Mark Bowen who returned career-best match figures of 11 for 109, preyed on flimsy batting as Derbyshire capsized for 117. But Notts, needing an improbable 245 to win, were 122 for five at the close and effectively 122 for eight since three more batsmen were fit to appear only in emergency. Tim Robinson broke a bone in his hand in the field on the first day, Paul Pollard had a finger cracked by blows from Andrew Harris and Devon Malcolm and at the start of the second innings Matt Dowman, promoted to open, retired with his forearm badly bruised by another awkward bounce. The pace of Malcolm was too much for Ashley Metcalfe, superbly held at second slip, and Derbyshire`s hopes of a three-day success rose further when Paul Johnson was run out. Usman Afzaal marred a growing reputation by flirting with Kevin Dean`s away-swing and Notts were 43 for four when Malcolm dismissed Graeme Archer. That, however, was where Derbyshire ran into sterner resistance from a fifth-wicket stand of 60 in 22 overs before Kevin Evans swished unwisely at Vince Clarke. Dominic Cork is hoping to return for Derbyshire in the next two weeks after treatment for a groin injury. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Franks makes a telling mark By Neil Hallam at Trent Bridge Notts (192 & 248-8) beat Derbs (319 & 117) by 2 wickets NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, so accident-prone on the first three days, eschewed further mishap with unwavering competitive character to pull off an extraordinary victory over a Derbyshire side who they enjoy beating more than any other. At 43 for four, in pursuit of 245 and with three front- line batsmen fit to appear only in emergency, Notts seemed to be limping to plucky defeat inside three days to prick the confidence inflated by last week`s championship victory over Lancashire - their first in 11 months and only the second in 26 matches. Instead they dug deep into reserves of professionalism, responsibility and sheer nerve to reach 248 for eight, claiming 20 points and, at least as satisfying, offering a withering rebuke to a player-turned-writer who recently wrote in one newspaper - oh all right, this newspaper - that Notts were currently "unworthy of first-class status". To beat last season`s championship runners-up while carrying Tim Robinson, who broke a hand in the field on the first day, Paul Pollard, who had a finger cracked on the second, and Matt Dowman, whose elbow was deeply bruised on the third, was impressive enough. To do so without an overseas player - their injured Pakistani fast-bowler, Mohammad Zahid, has yet to appear this season - and after such an unpromising start to their second innings was as inspired an effort as any side is likely to produce all season. Even after Notts had recovered to 122 for five to take the game into a fourth day, the clever money was on the opposition but a pitch which had previously done much to encourage seam was getting drier and more predictable and Derbyshire`s attack grew increasingly innocuous as the overnight pair of Wayne Noon and Paul Franks brought the improbable within reach with a stand of 94 in 40 overs. Derbyshire`s hopes flickered when Noon, whose 63 occupied almost four hours, was superbly caught in the gully and Dowman - who, perhaps wisely, did not return directly to the dressing room - perished to a reckless hook. The imperturbable Franks, having reached 50 off the previous ball, was pinned in front an over later, still 25 runs shy of the target, but again Notts found the grit and selectivity to prey on a wilting attack as Mark Bowen sealed up one end and Pollard bravely dabbed and steered at the other before cutting Devon Malcolm for four to claim a famous success. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)