v Worcestershire Rapids NWT20 Blast at New Road

A man of the match performance by debutant Andre Russell ensured that Notts won this highly entertaining clash at New Road with four wickets and seven balls to spare. 

On a welcome dry day with intermittent sunshine a good sized crowd gathered.  Worcestershire fielding a young team well coached by Steven Rhodes proved combative opponents.

Dan Christian won the toss once more and inserted the home side. Russell and Hales came into the team and replaced Brendan Taylor and Luke Fletcher. Russell opened up from the New Road End and only conceded three. Gurney was more expensive going for 12. He reappeared in the fifth over, this time going for 13 including a six by Kohler-Cadmore. Worcester looked to be heading for a huge score standing at 54 for 0 at the end of the powerplay. Mullaney came on and removed Kohler-Cadmore with his first ball bowling the right hander for 30. Moeen Ali looked in ominous form but was caught at long off by Russell off Mullaney for a 27 ball 40 with four fours and one six, 75 for two. The straight boundaries were short and outfield fast so a large total was expected but Mullaney was doing an excellent job in slowing the Pears down. Russell returned for over 12 and with his sixth ball had big hitting Whiteley bowled with a slower ball for six, 99 for three. Kervezee got bogged down and was caught one handed by keeper Wessels off Jake Ball who had replaced Mullaney (4-0-22-2). Youngster Joe Clarke who came in at three again impressed getting to 69 not out off 48 balls with five fours and one six, but got little support in the closing overs. Russell (4-0-28-2) picked up his second wicket when D'Oliveria was caught at deep square leg. Worcestershire closed on 164 for five, probably 16 below par. Notts ground fielding was the best we have seen in 2016 greatly aided by athletic Russell. Notts bowling, Gurney apart was also of a high standard.

Notts set off for what looked like a routine target by taking 11 off the first over by Ali, which included Michael Lumb being caught off a no ball and then caught of the following free hit. In the third over Lumb played a shot through cover that was quite superbly caught one handed by Joe Clarke above his head, Leach the bowler. Lumb out for 12, a rare failure. Hales hit Barnard for four but next ball played an ugly shot as Henry held on at mid on, Notts 34 for two. After six overs, Notts stood on 54 for two. Wessels who had six fours in his 36 was then caught at long on off Ali for a 26 ball 36, 64 for three in the ninth over, but Ali's over proved expensive going for 18 as Christian hit two huge sixes. Notts looked well placed at 95 for three. The match though turned Patel Yorked himself to depart for a seven ball four. Next ball leg spinner D'Olivera (4-0-20-2) picked up another wicket when Greg Smith played on with a golden duck to his name, 95 for five.

Russell joined Christian and looked impressive from the off despite carrying a leg injury. He picked up his first six off Barnard. In total hitting huge sixes over the Pavilion and out of the ground, another one by the hotel and then another massive one over mid wicket at the Diglis End, three balls were lost. He was out the ball after his third six skying to Barnard off Ali with a 26 ball 41 to his name. Christian and Russell had added 64 in six overs in a very mature and sensible fashion. Notts now needed only six runs and they won it via a four by Mullaney off Leach. Christian in good form with the bat finished with 53 off 39 balls with three sixes and a four. Russell looked the real deal excelling in all three disciplines, a shame this could be his one and only game for Notts. Let's hope he is fit for the Derby game next Friday. The caravan now moves on to London with a four day game starting tomorrow at The Oval.MAG

The trimmed eleven were:

Michael Lumb, 
Riki Wessels, 
Alex Hales, 
Greg Smith, 
Dan Christian, 
Andre Russell, 
Samit Patel, 
Steven Mullaney, 
Sam Wood, 
Jake Ball, 
Harry Gurney.