Worcestershire Rapids Vitality T20 Blast at New Road, Worcester Win

WESSELS 9 SIXES FIFTY BLITZ BLASTS OUTLAWS TO VITAL WIN 💥

Sets-up Headlingley showdown

A blistering 55 off 18 balls by man of the match Riki Wessels saw Notts to an important five wicket victory with 11 balls to spare at dull and dank New Road. In front of a poor crowd, Worcester had posted what appeared to be an above par total of 191 for 6 with Brett d'Oliveira scoring a T20 best 64 off 37 balls (6 x 4, 3 x 6). Wessels though made a mockery of the chase by blasting nine sixes, four off former Notts paceman Andy Carter, two off Wayne Parnell and then three off successive balls from Pat Brown before next ball going for another six skying to square leg, his only other scoring shot being a single off his third ball. Wessels had taken advantage of a short boundary on the Severn side of the ground. Notts ended the power play on 87 for two with the home bowlers shell shocked. Jake Libby coming in at number three once more made an important contribution with a steady 37 off 25 balls (5 x 4) before being unfortunate to be run out following Tom Moores decision to go for an impossible single. Moores made amends for his sluggish start by blasting three sixes whilst being lame (using Libby as a runner) eventually falling for 30 off 21 balls. It was left to Christian 28 not out to see Notts home to set up a winner takes all game at Headingley next Friday; Yorkshire facing whipping boys Northants at Wantage Road on Thursday.

After a damp morning and early afternoon, Notts won the toss and inserted Worcester with play getting under way at 1540 still surprisingly as a 20 overs game. The home team were supporting breast cancer and wearing a bright pink strip. The outfield was still damp and with frequent lost balls, constant drying of balls and injury scares the match took nearly three hours to complete. In total 21 sixes were hit during the encounter with Notts hitting 14. Joe Clarke edged Fletcher's first two balls for fours through slip and then leg slip, eight off the first over. Seven off over two including a straight driven for four by Clarke, Gurney the bowler. Clarke hit Fletcher for two fours, 24 for 0 off three overs. Skipper Moeen Ali launched Christian for a huge six over midwicket followed by a leg side four, 37 for 0 after 3.4 overs as the rain returned, but it was a very brief stoppage of 3 minutes duration. Ali hit a square leg six, the over from Christian costing 19. Gurney returned from the Diglis End and conceded seven including an offside boundary for Moeen. Clarke hit Fletcher for 4 but next ball was caught by Hales at mid on for 29 (19 balls – 6 x 4), 54 for one. Ferguson square drove Fletcher for 4 off his first ball but then was caught at point by Patel. Worcestershire completed the power play on 59 for two. Fletcher in particular had been unlucky beating the bat and getting edges through getting appreciable lift.

Three runs came off the seventh over bowled by Sodhi. Moeen holed out to Libby on the point boundary for 25, Mullaney the bowler, 62 for three. Mullaney conceded two off his opening over. Ten came off Patel's first over including a boundary for d'Oliveira. Two successive boundaries behind the wicket followed by Cox off Mullaney meant Worcester were 86 for three off 10 overs. D'Oliveira hit Sodhi for a leg side six, 10 off the over. Patel (2-0-18-0) returned as D'Oliveira picked up another boundary, 105 for three off 12 overs. Mullaney got hit for another six over square leg for D'Oliveira. A full toss from Mullaney saw Cox (16) perish as he found Patel on the square leg ropes, 114 for four. Sodhi conceded six in his third over. D'Oliveira square drove Mullaney for four and then ramped him for four. Mullaney 4-0-34-2, 131 for four off 15 overs. Whiteley blasted two fours off Sodhi (4-0-31-0); 12 off the over. D'Oliveira got to his 50 off 32 balls. Next ball Christian removed Whiteley's off stump for 16, 144 for five. D'Oliveira hit a Christian full toss for four and then a square leg six, 155 for five. D'Oliveira hit a four through third man but Gurney bowled him next ball for 64, 160 for six. Nine off the 18th over. Root dropped Barnard on 4 at square leg off Fletcher. Barnard got an offside four that went straight six off Sodhi. Fletcher 4 0 35 2. Parnell hit Gurney for a massive six over mid wicket. Then the last ball also went for six, Gurney conceding 18 off his last over and finishing with 4-0-35-2. Worcestershire 191 for six with Parnell 22 not out and Barnard 11 not out. Notts had a large total to chase in marginal light.

Wessels got a leg side six off Andy Carter, 8 off the first over. Alex Hales powered two fours off the brisk Parnell bowling from the New Road End, 17 for 0 off 2 overs. Wessels got hit in the face from a delivery from Carter, the next ball being dispatched for six over square leg. Hales (9) flopped once more caught at mid off by Moeen after skying the ball from Carter, 25 for 1. Another six of the best followed as Wessels found the car park off Carter. Next ball was a straight six for Wessels, 21 off the over. Not to be left out Parnell then also went for successive sixes off Wessels blade a leg side hit then one over extra cover, 54 for one after 4 overs. Three successive leg side sixes by Wessels off Brown saw him to 50 off 17 balls, but next ball mistimed one and was caught by Barnard at deep square leg for 55 with NINE sixes, 72 for two. This had been Notts second best individual knock of the season, away from Trent Bridge, only Christian’s ton at Northampton being superior, Libby hit Brown's last ball for 4, 22 off the over. Libby hit Barnard for two fours, 11 off the over. Notts 87 for two off 6 overs. An amazing power play; in contrast to recent Notts efforts.

Moeen conceded five off his first over. Mitchell went for nine off the eighth over including a boundary for Libby. Twelve came off the next over from Moeen including two boundaries for Mullaney. Next up, Ed Barnard conceded seven, 120 for two off 10 overs. Mullaney (20) mistimed Brown and skied to Clarke at mid on, 121 for three. Barnard went for four as Notts were 128 for two off 12 overs. Moores was struggling and in desperation he went for a very risky single, Libby run out for 37, 132 for four. Moores then called for a runner, in came Libby again! Five came off the 14th over, Notts needed 55 off 6 overs. Moores came out his shackles hitting Moeen for six over long on and then two very long straight sixes to the back of the D'Oliveira stand, 21 off the over, 158 for 4 off 15 overs. Christian edged a four from Parnell, nine off the over. Moores was caught in the covers by Barnard off Brown for 30 off 21 (3 x 6, 1 x 4), 167 for five. Three off the over. Christian hit Carter for two sixes over square leg, then a four through point, 19 off the over. Carter 3-0-48-1 with his short term 6 week contract nearing an end. A wide from Brown and then 4 leg byes for Christian saw Notts home at 1837 on 194 for five. Patel 2 not out. Pat Brown after 22 off his first over was the pick of the bowlers with 3.1-0-28-3. Wessels inspirational effort had ensured Notts T20 destination is now well and truly in their own hands. MAG

Only Yorkshire or the weather and Birmingham can deny Notts now!






She's singing for Derbyshire and Leicestershire tonight...

The fat lady has sat down exhausted, waiting for her cue to start warbling ... again

The Outlaws grabbed a lifeline and are now back in control of their own destiny at least for one game anyway.

The scenario is straight forward now for Notts, win both games and qualify for an away Q/F match down south.

Unfortunately there are several potential bumps in the road,

• Sunday's opposition for one who made such light work of an inept Outlaws last Saturday night
• The weather, an NR would not suit Notts at all.
• Outlaws' own patchy form.

Jake Libby 2.0, the new beta version of Jake Libby #2, was frankly fantastic on Friday night; can he and Mooresy carry that form into the next game?

Wessels and Hales were put to shame by their more junior colleagues on Friday, but no doubt will get another opportunity to open together on Sunday, I'm certain a massive opening partnership is just round the corner for Outlaws in the next game or two, or three, or four (fingers-crossed).

Moeen Ali is allowed to return for Rapids. no doubt aiming to be a thorn in our side yet again. Rapids have been a little hit and miss in his absence. They will also be without Luke Wood, because he isn't allowed to face his parent club, and he's been the most frugal of their bowlers in the past week.

Light rain is forecast for Sunday afternoon in Worcester.

You know the squad and what the eleven will be, no change!