Date-stamped : 20 Jul97 - 10:21 Hat-trick history by Franks By Neil Hallam at Trent Bridge First day of four: Warwickshire 328-9 v Notts THE belief of Nottinghamshire that their 18-year-old seamer Paul Franks is marked out for a career of high achievement was re- inforced as he became the youngest player in their history to achieve a first-class hat-trick. Franks, who was earlier named in the England under-19 side for the limited-over series against Zimbabwe, struck in the first over after tea to have Trevor Penney caught behind and both Dougie Brown and Graeme Welch bowled off their pads. It had been 10 years since the county`s last hat-trick, by Richard Hadlee against Kent. Franks also held a blinding catch at square leg to end Dominic Ostler`s supervision of Warwickshire`s middle order but they still ended the day in the stronger position. Despite a green tinge to the pitch, the Notts decision to bowl seeemed a bold one in the absence of injured seamers Mark Bowen and Kevin Evans, and, after the early removal of Moles, lbw shouldering arms, it looked increasingly questionable. David Hemp, fluent through the off side, had 10 fours in 70 from 108 balls before edging low to second slip. Ostler, whose previous best in the championship this season was 38, scored most freely on the on side. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Nottinghamshire undone by Brown By Neil Hallam at Trent Bridge Second day of four: Notts (93-7) trail Warwicks (344) by 251 runs A TOTAL of only five batting bonus points from eight matches rep- resents a blemish on Nottinghamshire`s improved champi- on- ship form this season, and no addition to this meagre tally ever looked in prospect as they struggled to contain Warwickshire`s seamers on a rain-reduced day. Only 50 overs were possible between early-morning showers and the deluge which ended play 11 overs early, and seven of these were occupied by Warwickshire in adding 16 runs to their overnight 328 for nine. Even so, there was time for the flimsiness of Notting- hamshire`s batting to be thoroughly exposed on a pitch still suffused with green and at 93 for seven, a deficit of 251, the odds against them avoiding the follow-on must be very high. Nobody handled Allan Donald`s pace with any suggestion of com- fort but the ability of Dougie Brown to move the ball sharply off the pitch did even more to undermine Nottinghamshire and earned him figures of four for 29 off 16 overs. Tim Robinson`s lean spell continued as he jaywalked in line, Paul Johnson`s decision to promote himself to number three was con- founded in similar fashion, and when Nathan Astle and Graeme Archer were both undone by an extra degree of bounce there was an obvious need for pragmatic application. It was forthcoming for 34 overs from Paul Pollard, who played only at what could not be left alone until Brown returned to dislodge him. Chris Tolley then jabbed his second ball to third slip and af- ter the eighth-wicket pair had been denied the sanctuary of bad light by Andy Moles`s shrewd introduction of spin, a sudden downpour ended the proceedings. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Notts reprieved by fighting stand By Neil Hallam at Trent Bridge Third day of four: Notts (133 & 279-4) lead Warwicks (344) by 68 runs NOTTS, whose first innings was woefully lacking in fibre, re- deemed themselves with batting of admirable competitive charac- ter on an easing pitch after following on 211 behind. Nathan Astle`s first century for the county was a richly en- tertaining composition of nimble footwork and well-timed strokeplay and with Mathew Dowman picking off the loose stuff with increasing con- fidence in his 96, Warwickshire`s push for an innings victory inside three days was easily forestalled. Astle and Dowman put on 170 runs in 38 overs with not much running required, but Nottinghamshire`s final position of 279 for four, 68 runs ahead, hardly constitutes a promising platform with open- er Paul Pollard and captain Paul Johnson suffering hand injuries against left-arm seamer Michael Bell and not sure to bat again. Notts, resuming at 93 for seven, showed the first signs of stiffening resolve by adding 40 runs for their last three first-innings wickets but wobbled again when Tim Robinson twitched at some extra bounce and Johnson retired hurt after a blow on a finger already broken once this season. Astle, unabashed by this parlous state of affairs, signalled his intentions by pulling Allan Donald for six and he also col- lected seven fours in reaching 50 off only 42 balls. His second fifty required 70 balls and contained another six and nine more fours, but the tea interval interrupted his flow and he perished in the first over after the break, miscuing another forcing stroke to second slip. Graeme Archer`s lean form continued when he perished half-for- ward and Dowman, who had hit 19 fours, was going for the 20th when he too was pinned in front. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Notts hard to crack By Neil Hallam at Trent Bridge Notts drew with Warwickshire HOW do a Nottinghamshire side, who have managed a beggarly five batting bonus points all season, suddenly come by the tech- nique and bloody-minded stickability to occupy more than four sessions and make a nonsense of the fact that an innings defeat at one stage seemed their likeliest fate? Notts captain Paul Johnson would probably have rather more hair left if there were a ready answer to this conundrum. For the moment he must be grateful that, not for the first time this sea- son, adversi- ty provided the spur and a side who capsized fee- bly in their first innings and followed on 211 behind pro- duced the competitive mettle to set Warwickshire 205 to win in 32 overs and at least delay their attempt to close on the lead- ers. The pitch, which put a twinkle in the seamers` eyes on the first two days, was by this time chloroformed by hot sun- shine, but Notts` revival could not be entirely explained by the easing condi- tions. Two of their three championship wins this season - against Lancashire and Derbyshire - have come in games they were on course to lose and their recent NatWest Trophy victory over Sur- rey was also con- trived from a deeply unpromising position. Clearly they are at their best when things seem at their worst and if the upper order batting gives cause for concern, the res- olu- tion of the tailenders is a source of pride. "The evidence is there for all to see," said Johnson, who, like opener Paul Pollard, batted despite a broken finger. "We are in a reasonable position in the table but the batting bonus points make grim reading. "It`s up to the front-line batsmen to get our act together and make more of our opportunities because so far it`s been the low- er order which has done most to lift us." Dogged and prolonged resistance from Chris Tolley, Wayne Noon and Paul Franks underlined Johnson`s point as Notts, 279 for four overnight and only 68 runs on, ploughed on to 415 all out and left Warwick- shire needing to score at more than a run a ball to claim their fourth championship success. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)