Riki Wessels’ 33-ball 66 was not enough for the Notts Outlaws to chase down 202 as Derbyshire Falcons ran out eventual 34-run winners in the NatWest T20 Blast match at the 3aaa County Ground.

The hosts posted an imposing 201-7, thanks mainly to 52 from Chesney Hughes, despite Ben Hilfenhaus taking club-best figures of 3-29 from his four overs.

The Outlaws lost England batsman Alex Hales first ball of their reply to Nathan Rimmington who took 3-24 and despite the best efforts from Wessels his side fell short in their mammoth chase.

The start was delayed by 30 minutes due to rain but Hamish Rutherford wasted no time in launching the third ball from Harry Gurney over the sightscreen for six and driving the fifth straight for four.

Rutherford took two fours off the first over from Hilfenhaus but Wes Durston top edged a pull at the Australian and was caught by Fletcher running back from leg slip.

Hillfenhaus struck again in the last over of the powerplay when Rutherford mistimed a pull to mid-wicket but Derbyshire had taken 59 from the first six and Hughes maintained the tempo by twice driving Samit Patel over the long on ropes.

Hughes pulled Steven Mullaney for a third six to bring up the 100 and at the halfway stage, The Falcons were 110-2 with Hughes reaching his 50 from 27 balls.

The Outlaws needed wickets and they got two in five balls when Wayne Madsen top-edged a return catch to Mullaney to end a stand of 64 from 35 balls and Hughes was caught behind cutting at Daniel Christian, the Australians first wicket for the club.

Hilfenhaus returned to bowl Scott Elstone and both Shiv Thakor and Alex Hughes picked out deep mid-wicket but Tom Poynton swung Christian over long on to make sure Derbyshire passed 200.

Michael Lumb started the chase by driving Wayne White high over long on for six but Nottinghamshire were rocked when Hales was bowled first ball by Rimmington.

Wessels responded by pulling and driving White for sixes as 22 came from his second over and the Outlaws were well on course at the end of their powerplay on 72 for 1.

Alex Hughes and Durston conceded only eight from the next two overs with the Falcons skipper having Lumb caught at long on and Patel should have been run out on one but Hughes fumbled the return.

Wessels pulled Durston for six but then failed to clear deep mid-wicket and Nottinghamshire had a lot to do going into the last 10 overs with 104 needed.

Hughes had cranked up the pressure by not conceding a boundary in his four over spell and although James Taylor pulled White for six, Patel drove Thakor into the hands of extra cover.

The Outlaws needed 64 from the final 30 balls but wickets continued to fall, Christian and Greg Smith both run out going for quick runs.

James Taylor fell for 33 before Hilfenhaus and Luke Fletcher fell in the same Rimmington over and the game ended with Steven Mullaney caught at long on.