Date-stamped : 03 May97 - 06:14 Zahid under no illusion over size of Notts task By Charles Randall at Trent Bridge Northants (221-2) bt Notts (218-9) by 8 wkts THE Pakistani signed by Nottinghamshire, Mohammad Zahid, arrived just in time for a glimpse of his future team- mates being comprehensively defeated at Trent Bridge yesterday. It was just as well he did not see much. Luckily he was so tired after a day and a half travelling that he barely noticed Rob Bailey, Northamptonshire`s captain, carting Richard Bates`s off-spin for three fours and a six in one over for an assertive finish with more than eight overs to spare. Zahid, 20, might have been tempted to turn straight round and head back to Heathrow if the journey up the M1 had not been so clogged with traffic. On the other hand it was nice to feel wanted. Nottinghamshire need more class in their bowling attack, and this deficiency seemed obvious yesterday when their interest in the competition shrank to almost nothing. Earlier Mohammad Akram, Zahid`s Test colleague, showed what could be done with pace and accuracy, his four wickets securing an advantage for Northamptonshire, last year`s finalists, which they exploited impressively. Zahid, 6ft 2in and slightly built, hardly looks like a fast bowler, but he has large strong hands and he took 11 wickets in his debut Test against New Zealand in Rawalpindi. He was effective playing for Skelmanthorpe in the Huddersfield League last summer and he played three Tests this winter, departing for London from Colombo in 44 degrees heat. Waqar Younis, from the same town in Pakistan, and Wasim Akram have both endorsed Zahid`s credentials, which should give Nottinghamshire hope of improving on last season`s limp championship form, assuming that soreness in his back does not prove to be a serious injury. Yesterday Nottinghamshire lacked a cutting edge in batting and bowling, even though Mathew Dowman gave his side a good start, easing the day`s first ball off his pads for four and collecting 10 runs in the over. The left-hander went on to 92 before he was stumped off a wide, a crafty looper from John Emburey that had his young victim lingering incredulously at the injustice of it all. By then Nottinghamshire had lost their way, frustrated by clever off-spin bowling by Jeremy Snape and Emburey and their shrewdly set fields. Only one boundary was mustered in the last 28 overs as the innings, having developed a list, capsized and quietly sank. It could have been worse, because Akram had Dowman dropped behind the wicket when 25, David Ripley getting enough glove to the ball to give David Capel a chance from the ricochet at slip. In reply Northamptonshire made short work of a below- par total. David Capel, with 68 from 69 balls, and Bailey, 73 from 71, cover-drove some ordinary bowling crisply, supported in turn by Mal Loye and Kevin Curran. Dowman`s innings was full of confidence, with scoring power that should take the weight off Paul Johnson for quick runs this summer. His fifty arrived in only 65 balls, containing seven of the eight fours Nottinghamshire managed in their entire innings. Johnson miscued a dolly catch to mid-on off Akram, and Tim Robinson was beaten in the air and bowled through the gate by Snape. These were key wickets while Dowman found the slower bowling much less appetising. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)