v Yorkshire Vikings NWT20 Blast at Trent Bridge

GALE LEADS VIKING RAID TO SUCCESS OVER OUTLAWS

Notts ended a poor week by being comfortably defeated by six wickets with seven balls to spare by Yorkshire.

After a warm tea time the temperature had dropped considerably by 1830 and visiting Captain Gale won the toss and inserted Notts on a used wicket. With Hales in India and Lumb still crocked the batting line up looked less menacing than normal. Philander was dropped so Sam Wood and Will Gidman came in from the team that beat the Bears last week.

Wessels and Smith opened, but the start was less than spectacular as only 13 came off first three overs as Maxwell on his Tyke debut and Bresnan turned the screw. Wessels (13) top edged a six off the former England man but perished when Fisher took the catch at third man. 19 for one.

Brendan Taylor (8) hit two fours off successive balls off Plunkett through the covers but next ball did not quite clear Fisher at mid on who took a disputed catch as umpires Garrett and Baldwin finally ruled in the Yorkshire’s wonder kid's favour, 31 for two in the fifth.

Greg Smith and Patel added 44 in five overs before Smith after hitting four fours was caught at long on by Plunkett off Pyrah for a 29-ball 27. Notts 75 for three off 10 overs.

It got worse when captain Titch edged Plunkett to Bairstow to perish for three, 80 for four, with just eight overs left. Patel having hit sixes of Pyrah and Maxwell got to an innings high of 41 off 27 balls. He ran down the pitch to Rashid but edged it to keeper Bairstow, 112 for five, with 21 balls left.

Mullaney was dropped by Hodd at long on and then hit Maxwell into Fox Road stand. Sam Wood trying to keep the scoring going was run out by Bairstow for three. Then off the last ball of the innings Mullaney was run out for a 31-ball 38. Notts 20 or so under par on 143 for seven as Plunkett had figures of 4-0-18-2.

In front of a crowd of 9375 Gurney bowled a maiden to Gale opening up but with Hodd as partner the first wicket added 61 in 51 balls as the game was as good as over. Hodd hit Patel to Taylor in the covers to depart for 22. Mullaney and Patel did their best to limit the scoring as Mullaney got Lees caught at cover as the left hander was fooled by slower ball as Titch took another catch, 70 for two. Bairstow hit Patel for six in his last over as the slow left armer finished with 4-0-26-1. Bairstow (10) became Mullaney’s second victim as he edged the ball behind the wicket; the two big mean Fletch and Brendan Taylor nearly collided but the keeper took the catch cleanly, 92 for three. Mullaney finished with 4-0-27-2 as he and Patel had fine games.

Fletcher’s loan move to Surrey had not done the Metronome much favours as his two overs went for 23. Sam Wood belatedly came on from the Radcliffe Road and picked up Maxwell for 20 as Mullaney took the catch at mid on. Meanwhile Gale anchoring the innings saw Yorkshire home with a six of Wood to finish with a man of the match 68 not out with five fours. Gidman meanwhile was not given a bowl.

Notts now have just one win from seven games in an extremely disappointing start to the season. There is scope to do much better, they now have nine days off to lick their wounds and start playing to their potential. MAG

Nottinghamshire will be without their primary T20 batsman, who is now contracted to Mumbai Indians for as long as they need a drinks carrier.

Michael Lumb isn't as yet ready to return and Chris Read sits out again.

The Outlaws' squad

Jake Ball, 
Luke Fletcher, 
Will Gidman, 
Harry Gurney, 
Brett Hutton, 
Steven Mullaney, 
Samit Patel, 
Vernon Philander, 
Greg Smith, 
Brendan Taylor (Wicketkeeper), 
James Taylor (Captain), 
Riki Wessels
 Sam Wood