v Yorkshire Vikings NWT20 Blast at Headingley

Viking hearts Broken

Notts saved their best until last in the zonal round by breaking Tyke hearts at Carnegie Hall.

With a crowd 8662 behind them, the home contingent were confident of victory against a Notts side who gave Jake Ball his first taste of first team action since hobbling off Taunton in early May.

With an average score of just 140 at Headingley this season and on a used pitch both captains would have batted first on a wicket expected to turn. Gale won the toss but the rest of the evening certainly did not go to script.

After an opening over from The Metronome that went to for two, The Tyke overseas openers of Williamson and Finch took advantage of the short boundaries on the Western Terrace side. Shahzad got a frosty reception from the Leeds oinks as the volume levels increased when his first delivery sailed over extra cover boundary as Finch hit a huge six. Two fours followed off the next two balls. Finch after being the hero in the Roses match had had a dire batting record in the competition and wanted to leave on a high note.

Bowling from the Football Stand End, Jake Ball who was Notts best bowler of the night had Williamson leg before for six, 33 for one in the fourth. However Lees picked up the cudgels as the Warsop man's opening over went for 16.

But in his second over, Ball bowling straight had Lees (16) palpably leg before as The Postman raised his finger, 51 for two in the sixth.

Finch though was creating carnage. A ball from Patel sailed out of the ground and had to temporarily replaced as he raced to 50 off 27 balls with four sixes. Yorkshire were scoring at ten an over and it was apparent now that the pitch was a belter. Finch and Bairstow added 81 in eight overs until the crowd who were in delirium went silent when Read took a stunning legside catch off Franklin as Finch departed to a standing ovation. His 89 came off 46 balls with seven sixes and four fours. This catch was pivotal to Notts winning on the night; if the Aussie had staying another 20 or so more runs would have been attained. No matter which bowlers Taylor turned to runs were coming at a terrific pace. Notts did not help themselves as Mullaney needlessly threw four overthrows. Gale (5) skied one in the air and Read took a well judged catch as he ran for the ball that was swirling and spinning in the humid air; 158 for five as Mullaney had made amends with the ball. Fletcher was hit for a huge six by Jonny Bairstow as he raced to his 50. Yorkshire got to the 200 with a ball to spare but off the last ball Bairstow was caught in front of the East Stand by Sam Wood off the workmanlike Ball. Bairstow had made 60 off 34 balls with five fours and one six. Ball finished with figures 4-0-38-3. The Metronome had a rare off night as his four overs went for 38 and Samit went for 12 an over off his allocation. Yorkshire in their Braehead Clan outfits had scored 200 for five off their allocation.

With Worcester putting up a huge total against Derby, Notts were in danger of losing their home quarter final slot. Would Notts play safe and protect their run rate or go for it? The second option was taken up, fortune favours the brave. Mullaney (22) who hit Ryan Hair for two successive sixes added 32 with Hales. Wessels in such fine form was the perfect foil for Hales who was determined not to be outshone by Finch. Rashid was hit into Western Terrace by Wessels. Hales repeated the dose twice over as the leg spinner had figures of 4-0-41-0. Seventy were added in eight overs before Wessels was caught at deep mid-wicket by Lees off Rafiq. Hales was dropped by Williamson but got to 50 off 30 balls.

Despite the high run rate the victory target seemed distant but more satisfying Notts were now on course for the money spinning home tie. Hales was caught at deep mid wicket by Rafiq in front of the Western Terrace off Bresnan, the most economical bowler of the night. Hales man of the match winning 67 came off 40 balls with six fours and three sixes. A well paced mature innings. With Hales gone Notts needed 70 off the remaining 35 balls; an improbable target.

Notts though with qualification now guaranteed had no pressure on them and could play in a relaxed and cavalier manner. Patel hit Pyrah for six but was caught at long on by Finch of the same bowler for 26 off 16 balls. Notts now needed 39 off 17 balls. The crowd was on fire sure of a home victory. Franklin who had a quiet competition hit the first two balls he faced off Pyrah for six. Notts now needed 26 runs from 12 balls as the decibel levels were still high. You would have put your mortgage on Sid being able to contain Titch, who apart from one night a couple of years ago in Southampton had no previous record of putting bat to ball at the death. Taylor hit Sid for 18 off his final four deliveries as he had figures of 4-0-53-0. You could hear a pin drop as Notts now only needed six off the last over. Bresnan bowled a dot ball but the following delivery sailed into Football Stand as Franklin hit his third maximum as Yorkshire had lost and were eliminated out of the completion. Burley Park station was very quiet post match as the home fans were shell shocked. Thirty nine runs had been added in 13 balls of Jiminy cricket; Franklin was unbeaten on 19 from six balls and Taylor 35 off 14 balls with six fours and one six. The ending was completely off script. Notts after a shaky start and despite playing the whole competition seemingly a batsman short had finished second in the North; a home tie against Hampshire awaiting next Sunday. Can Notts get over their Trent Bridge quarter final jitters? MAG