What have we got to declare?

Lower Pav reports with Barmy Kev editing on a full day of many twists and turns. A few moans . But we hear how he remains optimistic.

I have a breakfast with our party at Trent Bridge  Inn near ground . There is a Daily Telegraph paper floating around and relieved it's not the Guardian. I am trying to find sports pages with no success and then discover Seaxe Man has this part.

At ground are we going to win? It depends on how we bowl in first hour with new ball. I'm cautiously optimistic. 

The over rate goes up from +2 to +5 overnight. TRJ  starts off with maiden. 3rd over a rather silly shot under circumstance  Patel caught in deep under floodlights by Finn. It's raining and light bad umpires take them off. The BBC said today it will be dry and bright what is wrong with them!

Players back and new ball due. It's either wickets or runs! It was runs and after 6 overs with new ball we have only one slip in for Finn   There are 2 slips for Murtagh. It's dark it's raining again there off for bad weather. Early lunch I am still optimistic.

After lunch at 333 5 Phil the Power says triple Nelson always takes a wicket. I ask but told Kev not to put in report will we get another bonus point or a first innings lead? One leads to two as Read bowled and next ball Siddle caught behind. Hat trick ball surrounded bat no wicket.  

Wessels next out spectacular catch by Malan at 2nd slip going through 3rd slip. Adams 1st ball hit for 6 what's going on this is not proper 4 day cricket.? They avoid follow on, Adams hits another 6 . He either hits for six or misses. Apart from a slip everyone is on boundary. Adams  tries to clear them with a cavalier shot caught in front of wicket by man behind the stumps Simmons for our full bonus points achieved. Barmy Kev asks when did this last happen no one knows. Fletcher and Gurney put on irritating last wicket stand. Fletcher eventually out in deep . Lead 113 and our best ever signing Tim Murtagh achieves 6 wickets. 

Quick runs needed for declaration. 3 Bradmanesque boundaries by Chris Rogers in first over puts us on way. We are scoring at 5 an over but in 10th Malan out playing no shot.  I'm talking to Vic  and miss the excellent Rogers out caught by Wessels. 

I think we need to be minimum 350 ahead before considering a declaration. Lead of 222 is Nelson's curse going to strike again?It does there is a tickle and Morgan out. I still remain optimistic . When Dexter plays on with score 114 the "Declaration" word is banned but would still rather be in our position than theres. Every ball that does something has us in trouble is good news for us when we bowl, as the tension mounts.  Then Denly worst way to get out run out backing up , freak dismissal. The sun appears for 10 minutes at 5:45 too late to forgive BBC and leaves to an ovation.  The pendulum is swinging our way with constructive effort of solid defence and expansive shots by Simmons and Stirling. Momentous moment 300 lead I shout Notts chance of win is receding as Middlesex victory becomes more of a possibility  to response of Shhh from Middlesex fans.

We finish with lead of 333 triple Nelson the cursed combination at 7:15 Well earned refreshments follows back at the Trent Bridge Inn. I still remain optimistic.

This report is courtesy of Lower Pavilion comments of day with Barmy Kev cautiously choosing what to include, what to definitely leave out and what to edit a tad.