v Derbyshire Falcons NW T20 Blast at Trent Bridge

OUTLAWS STEAL VICTORY AT THE DEATH

The Harry Gurney of yore returns to win it for Notts in the final over and Ball has balls of steel.

Notts kept their chance of Twenty/20 qualification with a narrow 2 run win over visiting Derbyshire in front of a record crowd of 13,582.

On a sunny warm night Notts won the toss and decided to bat on a used wicket. Captain James Taylor came in for Greg Smith in the only change to the side that lost to Worcester a week before.

Notts got off to a slow start. Lumb perished on the deep square leg boundary for 3 off Thakor, 14 for off 2.1 overs. Notts got to 51 for 1 after the 6 over power play. But two balls later, Wessels (22) who added some impetus to the innings was caught at short third man off Cork.

Hales somewhat stop/start early doors was joined by Patel. Samit looked in good form and the pair added 68 in 8 overs, Hales, favouring the leg side, perished caught by Alex Hughes off Chesney Hughes for a 35-ball 54, with seven fours and one six. Patel got to 52 off 38 balls when he was caught at deep mid wicket off Thakor, 147 for four. Thakor’s last over (over 18), only went for five and he also picked up the wicket of James Taylor who made 12 off 10 balls without a boundary as Notts were losing their way. Titch playing a ramp shot that he only succeeded in giving Poynton an easy catch. Thakor had taken 3-25 in his four overs. Notts took 14 off Cork’s last over. Mullaney was bowled by Rimmington (hardly a stellar signing) for nine as Notts closed on 172 for six, eight under par.

Patel bowled the first over the reply and only went for three. Ball and Gurney proved expensive as Captain Wes Durston hit five fours in his 10 ball 22  before being caught at third man off Jake Ball. Up to the very last over Derbyshire were always ahead of D/L target; 58 runs came off the power play, Sam Wood who did not bat, bowled over seven which went for 12 and then Mullaney bowled off the reel (of 4 overs) from the Pavilion End and proved frugal, his overs going for 23 and he also had a caught and bowled Chesney Hughes for 14, 74 for two off eight. Kiwi left hander Hamish Rutherford added 57 runs off eight overs with Wayne Madsen but then Ball returned for over 16 and demolished Rutherford’s middle stump with a Yorker. His 62 came off 47 balls with five fours and three sixes. Derbyshire only needed 42 from 27 balls. Ball’s over went for seven. Over 17 bowled by the anonymous Christian went for 11 as Derbyshire needed 29 runs off three overs with seven wickets to fall. Over 18 bowled by Gurney also went for 11, just 18 needed now. Man of the match Ball's last over went for just seven as he removed Alex Hughes leg stump for 13. Gurney was given the last over, his first three having gone for 39. Madsen hit a two, then a dot ball then another two, seven now needed off three. Madsen hit a single, and then Godleman did the same and amongst great excitement with five needed off the last ball Madsen could only run a two. He had made 51 off 37 balls but Derbyshire had thrown it away losing by two runs. Ball had bowled three for 36 off his four and Samit mysteriously not given his last over had figures of 3-0-19-0.

TALL ORDER

In all honesty this was a very uneven performance from Notts against poor opponents that they would have swept away with his ease in previous seasons; they now probably need to win all three of the remaining games at Manchester, Chester-le-Street and Leicester to qualify a very tall order given current form. Notts now have five days rest, but the management will be scouring the globe to get in a replacement for Hilfenhaus. With championship relegation a real threat the failure to land an overseas professional could well relegate them as they need an experienced head to lead a relatively inexperienced bowling attack. MAG