After another professional performance Notts Outlaws comfortably beat Northants Steelbacks by 22 runs at a hot and humid Wantage Road last night.
In front of good sized crowd, by Northants standards, James Taylor won the toss and elected to bat. Lumb had gone lame once again, a re-occurrence of the left arm injury, so Sam Wood returned. After a quiet first over from Oli Stone, Mullaney and Hales tucked in. Mull hit Willey the Younger for four fours in over two. Hales not to be outdone hit Stone for two fours and a six in over 3. The wicket looked a belter and despite Willey changing ends, the run rate was still electric, 50 runs were scored in the first five overs. Off the second ball of the sixth over Hales played on to Crook for 16-ball 28, an innings including three fours and two sixes; 54 for one. In next over bowled by Azharullah bowling from the Pavilion End, Mullaney (22) was caught by Middlebrook at fine leg.