v Worcestershire Rapids NWT20 Blast at New Road

Samit and Sammy help Outlaws sail away with narrow win over the Rapids

A 16-ball blast from Darren Sammy plus fine bowling by Steven Mullaney and Samit Patel ensured that Notts won by 11 runs in the Worcester sunshine.

Hilfenhaus and Sam Wood came in Ball and Broad from the shambles that was the Leicester game.

Worcester won the toss and inserted Notts. In front of large and partisan crowd, Wessels (4) hit Shantry for four, but next ball skied him to mid off as captain Mitchell took the catch. The batsman had crossed and next ball Hales (1) edged the idiosyncratic left armer to Cox behind the wicket. Notts six for two after the first over, another bad start.

Mullaney and Brendan Taylor added 57 in six overs as Notts got back on even keel. The Zimbabwean looked in good form and hit two fours and one six off Barnard but swept Ajmal to Mitchell at deep square leg where Munro took the catch. Taylor out for an 18-ball 27. A stupendous catch by Mitchell at short mid-wicket holding up his right hand to take a reflex catch saw for. Mullaney (27) who sanked to his knees astonished, Notts 64 for four, Mull had hit two fours and two sixes.

A terrible mix up between Patel and his captain saw them at the same end but Whiteley’s return was poor and Samit survived. Patel was batting well but James Taylor was not putting bat to ball and the innings was stalling on a good wicket where 180 seemed par. Patel (30) having hit a six and a four lofted Leach to long on where Kohler-Cadmore took the catch, 119 for five with 27 balls left.

Over 17 went for only five, as the Pakistani finished with 4-0-26-1. Sammy gave the innings some last impetus as Shantry’s left armers went for 13 in over 18. Joe Leach bowled a good penultimate over which went for only five as he finished with 4-0-21.1 Notts 145 for five off 19 overs.

Shantry bowling from Diglis End went for 24 in his last over which went 6461bye and then another 6. Sammy kept hitting straight sixes as he hoisted Notts to a competitive total of 169 for five. Shantry 4-0-54-2. Sammy 36 not out off 16 balls with one four and four sixes. Notts were still short of the par score in an innings which was very stop/start.

Worcester got off to a dream start getting to 34 off three overs. Fletch came on from the Diglis End for over 4 and immediately Mitchell (13) chipped him to Wessels at cover, 34 for one. Hilfenhaus looking a bit rusty on his Green and Gold debut got Oliver (9) out in his second over as he skied the ball to Sam Wood at square leg, 43 for two in the fifth. Ali who scored 90 at Northampton on Friday looked in good form, but Patel who had replaced Fletcher got him adjudged leg before for a 24-ball 36, former Notts man Wharf raised the finger. In his next over, big hitting Kiwi Colin Munro was caught at long on off Samit as Worcester were in the sauce at 74 for four in the 10th. Unused last Friday, Mullaney and Patel were turning the screw and the Pears were struggling. .Darren Sammy meanwhile was enjoying himself on the boundary ropes signing autographs and taking selfies between balls with the home fans.

With the score on 87, Cox was leg before for three as Patel picked up his third wicket. Samit named man of the match finished with 4-0-17-3 to go with his earlier 30. Kohler-Cadmore who struggled in a boundaryless 15 then was smartly stumped by Brendan Taylor standing up to Mull the young ex Malverian just lifting up his leg and Taylor sniffed the chance. Worcester 87 for six in the 13th, Notts now on top as Mullaney had figures of 4-0-22-1; the eight overs bowled by Patel and Mullaney had gone for just 40 runs. Lessons had been learned from Friday.

Whiteley though had hit quick runs in the past against Notts in his Derby days as hit Sammy bowling a sole over from the New Road end conceded a huge six.

Hilfenhaus returned as Barnard (10) was castled losing his leg stump to the Tasmanian. Leach was then yorked off his pads as Fletcher took the wicket. Worcester 117 for eight with 22 balls left.

Whiteley took a liking to Fletcher as over 17 went for 16. Whitely hit the next two balls of the next over from Hilfenhaus for six and four as the home crowd were getting pumped up with the pyrotechnics from the left handed Whiteley. Worcester now needed 26 off two overs.

Gurney replaced Hilfenhaus (4-0-36-2) from the New Road end and Whiteley hit another towering six but Gurney got his revenge by yorking him next ball as Whiteley departed for a whirlwind 36 off 18 balls with four sixes, 150 for nine. Worcester needed 18 off the last over bowled by Fletcher a straight six from Shantry off the first ball increased the tension. Shantry then hit the next ball hard to an extra cover where James Taylor took a marvellous catch diving to his right to break the home fans hearts. Worcester all out for 158, as Notts triumphed by 11 runs. A very entertaining match played on a fine sunny day had had the perfect ending for Notts fans. Notts now have five days off before heading for Birmingham on Friday expect Lumb and Smith to return for the departing England duo.MAG