Durham Jets at Chester le Street NWT20 Blast

OUTLAWS COAST TO VICTORY OVER A MEEK JETS

Notts got their third twenty/20 victory in a row with the easiest of nine wicket victories over a hang dog Durham line up without an overseas player. 

Durham with a 4 point deduction following the draconian ECB sanctions and without a win surrendered meekily in front of unanimated crowd of 3,000 on a fine evening in the North East. Man of the match for Notts was Samit Patel with three for 26 as Notts bowled the home team out for 123 on a pitch totally different to the surface we saw at TB last weekend.

On a sunny evening, Durham skipper Paul Coughlin won the toss and elected to bat. Notts were unchanged once again. Samit Patel bowled the first over from the Finchale End and conceded seven runs. Cameron Steel (6) mistimed Luke Wood's first ball and skied him straight to Christian's hands at cover. Off the fourth ball Collingwood skied Wood to Gurney as short fine leg to depart with a 2 ball duck to his name, 8 for two. Jake Ball bowled the third over and conceded a boundary and bowled five dot balls, Durham 15 for two after three overs. Wood's second over went for 11 as Clark took two fours off him. A poor over from Gurney saw him concede 13 including a wide. Ball bowling too short went for successive fours Clark the batsman, the over costing 15. Ball though did bowl Richardson for nine off his last ball, 54 for three. Patel returned and had Graham Clark smartly caught by Moores for a 27 ball 41 including seven fours, 58 for four after seven overs. Sodhi bowled the seventh over and conceded seven as Burnham and Paul Coughlin had to consolidate.Jack Burnham (7) was caught above his head by Christian as Patel picked up his second wicket. Next ball Poynter was bowled middle stump first ball by Samit, Durham 65 for six. After nine overs Durham stood at 72 for six. Ish Sodhi went for six off the next over from the Lumley End. Patel completed his spell with three for 26. Mullaney replaced Sodhi and went for eight not helped by a poor bit of fielding from Jake Ball in front of old scoreboard. Another indifferent Gurney over including a no ball for a bouncer went for 10. A poor pull shot from Pringle (19) saw him caught by Brendan Taylor at square leg off Mullaney, 104 for seven off 13.1 overs. Debutant left hander Liam Trevaskis hit Mullaney through point for four, 108 for seven with six overs left. Sodhi then went for five singles in over 15. Trevaskis was struggling to time Mullaney going for a risky single non striker Coughlin was run out for 23 as Mullaney threw to Moores, 114 for eight. Mullaney three overs for 13. A smart stumping from Moores saw Sodhi pick up first wicket as McCarthy went for one, 121 for nine. Sodhi conceding 25 off his allocation. Mullaney conceded two singles off his last over to finish with one for 15. Durham's poor effort was completed when off the first ball off the returning Gurney Rushworth was caught at wide mid off by Mullaney. Durham 123 all out off 18.1 overs. Trevaskis unbeaten on 13. Wood two for 15 off two overs. Ball one for 19 off two. Harry Gurney's 13 balls went for 23. Durham about 30 under par on a two paced pitch which suited Mullaney and the two spinners.

Trevaskis opened from the Finchale End bowling slow left armers and went for 11 including two boundaries from Hales. The experienced Rushworth gave no loose stuff going for two singles and almost getting Hales caught at deep mid wicket; the ball just bouncing short of the fielder. Captain Paul Coughlin brought himself on and Hales hit three boundaries as the over cost 15 including a leg side wide. Rushworth went for seven in the fourth over, as Notts were 35 for 0. Hales was striking the ball as well as ever hitting the Irishman McCarthy for two fours in an over costing 12. Rushworth conceded 17 as Hales bludgeoned a further three fours. Notts 64 for 0 after six overs. Trevaskis returned and was swept for four by Wessels but in the same over bowled Hales for 44 off 22 balls with 10 boundaries, a good first scalp for the youngster, 69 for one. Collingwood came on for a bowl from the Finchale End and went for four. Wessels reverse swept Trevaskis for four, 81 for one after nine overs. Collingwood was hit for four singles in the tenth over. Taylor paddled Trevaskis for a 4 and then a three as Notts were coasting home. His final figures one for 33 off four overs. Pringle replaced Collingwood and went for six. Notts 100 for one off 12 overs. Cameron Steel was the given a twirl bowling off spin, Wessels hitting him for an off side four. Notts now needed 17 off seven overs. The crowd though were very patient and stayed the course as Pringle went for six runs. The 50 partnership between Wessels and Taylor was reached in eight overs. Wessels was left stranded on 49 off 48 (4 x 4) as Taylor hit the only six of the night over mid wicket off Pringle as Notts got home with four overs unused. Taylor 33 not out off 26 balls. Although the floodlights were on they were not really required as the match finished at 2043 under blue skies. An excellent night for Notts. Worcestershire should prove much tougher opponents tomorrow night at The Bridge. MAG

25th July

Durham, unfairly levied with a four point handicap for this competition have been digging deep into their beleaguered squad for players after International call-ups. Leader Paul Collingwood will prove instrumental in the outcome of this game, there's little doubt as will the team spirit behind their new captain Paul Coughlin. Chester le Street isn't the most happy of venues for Outlaws to visit but hopefully over all superiority in strength and class will carry them through this year.