v Birmingham Bears NWT20 Blast at Edgbaston

Outlaws fail to shine in the Edgbaston gloom


Having lost an important toss Notts slipped to a 7 wicket Vera Duckworth defeat. A poor forecast plus high ticket pricing (£22 on the night) meant the crowd at Edgbaston was mediocre.

With England not requiring James Taylor, Notts replaced the injured Gurney with Jake Ball and Greg Smith came in for Alex Hales.

Notts got off to a reasonable start with ten runs coming off the first over. Mullaney (6) perished off the last ball of the second over bowled by Hannon-Dalby caught at backward point miscuing, 18 for 1.

Jeetan Patel's first over went for 21 as Wessels looked in fine form hitting three sixes in total. Notts were making good progress as the score stood at 64 but off the last ball of the power play Wessels was caught by Chopra in the covers for 39 off just 19 balls, Gordon being the bowler. Brendan Taylor holed out off Rikki Clarke for 15, 67 for three. The Zimbabwean is struggling for form.

Notts got to 72 off seven overs but then only scored 77 runs off the remaining 13 overs as they got a total 30 below par; the pitch being the same one that England scored a record score three days ago.

Patel was out to his namesake trying a reverse sweep and getting his stumps demolished for just four. Notts were losing their way. James Taylor was allowing too many dot balls and Greg Smith never looked like he was going to get runs. It was no surprise when young spinner Josh Poysden got Smith out for nine. Ninety two for five in the 12th over.

Sammy hit Poysden for a massive six onto the third tier of the Pavilion complex; the hit smashing a window, but he could not really get going. Taylor departed leg before to Clarke for a 26 ball 23, Titch getting off the mark with an edged four and only finding the ropes one further time. 119 for six in the 16th. Sammy got to 23 before holing out off Hannon-Dalby. The batsmen crossed and next ball Sam Wood also perished in the deep for nine, 136 for eight.

Jake Ball hit the last ball of the innings for six as Notts finished on an inadequate 149 for nine. Hannon-Dalby finished with 4-0-29-4 and Clarke had the economical figures of 4-0-24-2. Patel having gone for 21 off his first over only went for 14 off his last three.

Hilfenhaus removed Chopra off the fourth ball of the first over caught at slip by Wessels just as light rain arrived with Bears 0 for one. The players were off for just over an hour. The teams returned at 2110 with Warwickshire having an adjusted target of 98 off 11 overs. Bowling with a wet ball on an easy paced pitch this target was going to be hard to defend. Hilfenhaus completed a rare maiden but Man of the match Porterfield and Ian Bell added 67 in just six overs. Bell hitting two sixes off Patel's sole over. Sammy criminally bowled two no balls as he went for 25 off his two overs. He did though pick up Bell caught on the ropes in the front of the Pavilion by Wessels for a 24 ball 38. Wessels picked up his third catch of the innings as Evans holed out for nine, 90 for three.

Warwick got home with four balls unused with Porterfield unbeaten on a 22 ball 37. Notts topsy turvy baseball season now stands at three wins and three loses. Sammy will be missed and Notts have to hope that Lumb, who will play at Taunton on Sunday, finds his form soon. Too many batsmen are off the pace and the bowling is too inconsistent. MAG

In a scary bout of common sense, the nonselected for England, James Taylor, has been released and is allowed to take the reins at Edgbaston for the Outlaws tonight.

photo from Warwickshireccc

The squad for this game:

Jake Ball
Luke Fletcher
Will Gidman
Ben Hilfenhaus
Brett Hutton
Steven Mullaney
Samit Patel
Darren Sammy
Greg Smith
Brendan Taylor WK
James Taylor Capt
Riki Wessels 
Luke Wood
Sam Wood