v Northamptonshire Steelbacks NWT20 Blast at Wantage Road, Northampton

After another professional performance Notts Outlaws comfortably beat Northants Steelbacks by 22 runs at a hot and humid Wantage Road last night.

In front of good sized crowd, by Northants standards, James Taylor won the toss and elected to bat. Lumb had gone lame once again, a re-occurrence of the left arm injury,  so Sam Wood returned. After a quiet first over from Oli Stone, Mullaney and Hales tucked in. Mull hit Willey the Younger for four fours in over two. Hales not to be outdone hit Stone for two fours and a six in over 3. The wicket looked a belter and despite Willey changing ends, the run rate was still electric, 50 runs were scored in the first five overs. Off the second ball of the sixth over Hales played on to Crook for 16-ball 28, an innings including three fours and two sixes; 54 for one. In next over bowled by Azharullah bowling from the Pavilion End, Mullaney (22) was caught by Middlebrook at fine leg.

This is as good as it got for The Cobblers as Wessels (64) and Patel (42) added 102 runs in 11 overs to take the game away from the home side. The ton came in over 13, but Wessels in particular put his foot on the accelerator against his former County. Wessels was dropped at long on by Willey, the Northants star had a bad night with his three overs costing a colossal 49 runs and only scoring three later. Patel hit Crook to Willey at long who on this occasion took the catch and volleyed the ball away in celebration, Patel had made 42 in 33 balls with two fours and one six, 158 for three. Three balls later James Franklin (1) only succeeded in putting a ball from Crook into orbit with wicket-keeper Duckett taking the catch on re-entry. Crook bowled economically his four overs costing 19 runs for three wickets; a fine performance on a flat wicket. Off the first ball of the next over, Wessels’ man of the match innings came to end, when he got a thin edge to Duckett’s gloves of Azharullah, his 64 came off 38 balls with six fours and two sixes; what a season he is having. Read was the bowled for two as Azharullah picked up third wicket. It was relief that Taylor only appeared late on as he again failed to provide late momentum as Notts only picked up 16 runs off the last 16 balls of the innings with Taylor 4 not out and Sam Wood unbeaten on six as Notts closed on 174 for six. Graeme White bowled four overs for 26 runs from Abingdon Avenue End.

Fletcher and Gurney opened up with two economical overs. Shahzad bowling over 3 from the Pavilion End then removed Willey and Levi off successive balls. Left hander Willey hit the ball high on the off side where Taylor took the catch at backward point. The batsman crossed and Levi (6) was adjudged to have edged the ball to Read by the Clipstone Clipper, Northants nine for two after 17 balls. Franklin made a surprise appearance with the ball replacing Shahzad. Middlesex loanee Adam Rossington hit him for six over mid-wicket but the Kiwi got his revenge when he went for second helpings but this time hitting the ball a bit straighter as Mullaney took the catch in front of the players balcony, Rossington gone for 11, 40 for three in the seventh. Patel dropped a caught and bowled chance when captain Coetzer on 20 hit it straight back to him.

Mullaney first over proved a bit expensive as Crook hit him for a four and a six. The Crook and Coetzer partnership was beginning to gain momentum, but Crook going for one shot too many was sensational caught at long on by Wessels taking the ball one-handed on the ropes. Patel was the bowler; Crook had made 37 off 23 balls, 100 for four in the 14^th. The floodlights were beginning to take effect in the cloudless sky. Coetzer added 37 runs in four overs with Spriegel as the required run rate got higher. Gurney bowling from the Abingdon Road End yorked Coetzer for a 46-ball 67, the highest score of the game. Graeme White was unlucky to be run out as he drove the ball straight on the non-striking stumps Fletcher gathered the rebound and picked up the stumps.  Franklin was given the last over replacing Gurney and with the match over as a contest; Spriegel was caught at deep mid-wicket by Hales as Northants closed on 152 for seven.  A team effort with the ball with Gurney the most economical with 3-0-17-1. Notts lie second and if they maintain their net run rate advantage over Worcester will get a home quarter final. MAG