Rain affects the first day of the Nottinghamshire-Worcestershire game

The 2nd Division County Championship game between Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire grabbed a few eyeballs as it was marked to be the battle between the Indian stars Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravichandran Ashwin, who were set to face off at Trent Bridge. However, the first day of the match (Tuesday) was cut short due to repeated interruptions by rain and only 47.5 overs of play was possible.

The visiting side Worcestershire decided to bowl and the toss was not required as they wanted to make the best of the overcast conditions. Steven Mullaney’s dismissals in the 3rd over brought Pujara to the crease. He along with the opener Jacob Libby put on 69 in 95 balls for the 2nd wicket before Edward Barnard dismissed Libby for 34. In the same over, the 21-year-old pacer dismissed India’s No.1 Test batsman for 28 runs. Pujara played 55 balls and hit three boundaries during his 65-minute stay.

His early exit didn’t allow him a face off with the national teammate. Ashwin has got Pujara’s wicket in three of the four innings he bowled at the No.3 specialist across all formats in professional cricket.

Ashwin doesn’t get to bowl

After Libby and Pujara’s dismissal, the home team collapsed at the hands of Worcestershire’s disciplined bowling. Barnard added two more wickets to his tally and reduced Nottinghamshire to 188/9 before rain brought a close to the day’s play. Alex Hales, Chris Read, and Brendon Taylor failed to convert their starts as they scored 28, 26 and 33 runs respectively.

In the 47.5 overs of play, the Worcestershire used only four bowlers and Ashwin wasn’t handed the ball given the conditions. With only one wicket left in the Notts’ innings, the off-spinner might not get a chance to roll his hands in the first innings, which could be only the 2nd instance in his first-class career.

Ashwin didn’t get to bowl in a first-class innings on four occasions previously and only one of it was a complete inning.