Loudon impresses but Notts sweep to win

Nottinghamshire 191 and 471 for 5 dec beat MCC 168 and 352 (Loudon 123, Bresnan 94, Cook 51) by 142 runs
Scorecard

Alex Loudon struck form with the bat, but couldn't prevent Nottinghamshire's victory charge © Getty Images

Nottinghamshire completed a 142-run win over MCC to launch their season in fine style. Despite a defiant 123 from Alex Loudon and Tim Bresnan's aggressive 94, Nottinghamshire's attack completed an efficient display midway through the final session.

Ryan Sidebottom finished with the best figures, 3 for 77 to add his first-innings haul of 4 for 42, and jolted his team into action with two wickets in two balls during the morning session. MCC had started confidently through Alastair Cook, who made up for his first-innings failure with a boundary-filled 51. He struck 11 fours in his 55-ball stay before being trapped lbw by Sidebottom, who followed up by having Ed Joyce caught behind first ball.

Rikkie Clarke also fell before lunch and when Luke Parker and Steven Davies followed early in the afternoon session a quick finish was on the cards. However, Loudon didn't waste the opportunity to show the talent that earned him selection for the tour of Pakistan before Christmas.

He struck 19 fours and a six off 191 balls as he reached only his second first-class century, three years after his first for Durham UCCE. Even though it was his off-spin that primarily caught the selectors' attention, at the end of last season, these runs will have done him no harm as England continue to search for players to bring balance to the one-day team in particular.

Loudon wouldn't have been able to post three figures if it hadn't been for the support from Bresnan, who arrived in the middle with him on 74. When Loudon eventually fell, top-edging a pull, Bresnan delayed the inevitable with some powerful strokeplay. He was within touching distance of a maiden first-class century, but was left stranded with the tail, and was the last-man out when he clubbed a catch to midwicket off David Hussey.

This match has provided a useful showcase for some of England's promising young players. Cook will be hoping he returns to Lord's next month as part of the Test team to face Sri Lanka, while Loudon and Clarke have put forward their claims to be considered as allrounders when the selectors next sit down.