v Northamptonshire Steelbacks NWT20 Blast at Trent Bridge

Outlaws steal back some hope

as Samit shines in the sun

After five successive defeats in all competitions Notts got back to winning ways with a comfortable seven wicket victory over Northants in front of a bumper Trent Bridge crowd.

Losing the toss once more, the visitors dressed in Crystal Palace tops were without David Willey and elected to bat. Notts rested Fletcher and brought in Ball from the line up who lost at Derby the previous day.

On a perfect summer’s day, Levi struggled up front as Samit Patel opened the bowling from the Pavilion End. He eventually got to nine off 16 balls when he was leg before to Hilfenhaus, 34 for one off five overs.

The last ball of over six was curate’s egg; Ball twisted his ankle while falling in his delivery stride. On came the physio and after a three minute hold up he was ready to deliver the ball once more. Duckett then appeared to be caught behind for a single. But umpires Gale and Lloyd went upstairs and TV umpire Wharf after an age watching the tape decided Ball had overstepped. No ball. Free hit. Ball tried once more delivered another no ball that went for two. Another free hit! This time Duckett hit a single. The saga had lasted seven minutes and Ball hobbled off not to reappear on 2-0-21-0.

Cobb and Duckett made good if somewhat steady progress as Cobb was twice dropped once a very hard caught and bowled by Mullaney when on 34 and then he survived on 43 when after a difficult diving attempt by Titch running towards The Fridge. Christian’s first over went for 17. The second wicket was worth 75 in eight overs when Duckett (30) was caught at long on by Smith off Mullaney; 109 for two. Mullaney finished with 4-0-27-1.

Crook got to 11 when he skied Gurney to the captain at deep point, 131 for three with 21 balls left. Kleinveldt (4) did not last long edging Hilfenhaus to Wessels. Rossington often a thorn in Notts side hit a rapid 28 off 11 balls hitting a massive six off Gurney in to the L+V. Cobb got to a career best 84 off 56 balls before being run out off the last ball of the innings. Northants 173 for five, a competitive total. Notts had bowled better than in recent games but there was still a lot of scope for improvement. Their ground fielding was also somewhat mixed. Gurney had figures of 4-0-35-1 and Hilfenhaus 4-0-35-2.

Notts lost Hales to the ninth ball of the reply when he skied Stone to deep square leg to depart for a single. Lumb was batting well and added 52 in five overs with Wessels. Having hit 45 in just 27 balls Lumb managed find Levi on the deep square leg boundary as ex-Notts spinner Graeme White picked up a wicket.  With the score on 80, Wessels played a ramp shot of Azharullah but was caught at short third man by Keogh. Wessels gone for 25 off 22 balls. Taylor and Patel initially dealt in singles but then accelerated as Notts raced home with nine balls unused. White four overs went for 33, Kleinveldt was expensive his 21 balls going for 41 runs. The fourth wicket partnership had added an unbroken 95 in just nine overs as Patel finished with 58 (5 x 4, 1 x 6) along with 4-0-30-0 and Taylor was on 38 (4 x 4, 1 x 6). Patel was named Player of the Match. Notts had won at last to the great relief from the 10000+ crowd. They now stand in sixth place in the Northern Section with four wins and five losses. They probably need to win four out of their remaining five games.

Mick Newell stated after the game that Chris Read will return for the crucial 4-day game against Worcester, a most welcome development. With Lumb returning to form and Hales now back in a Notts uniform the batting suddenly looks a bit stronger. Will the Metronome make his seasonal championship bow on Monday? MAG