A splendid unbeaten fifty from Dan Christian, and a man-of-the-match performance from Andre Russell, lifted Notts Outlaws to a four-wicket victory over Worcestershire Rapids in their NatWest T20 Blast contest at New Road.
Russell, on debut, claimed bowling figures of two for 28, and Steven Mullaney grabbed two for 22, as the hosts were restricted to 164 for five from their 20 overs, after being put in.
Joe Clarke made an unbeaten 69 for the Rapids but the total always looked to be within reach and was chased down by Notts with seven balls remaining.
Christian made 53 not out, getting his runs from 39 balls, with one four and three sixes, to guide his side to their sixth win in nine meetings with the Rapids.
After rain had washed-out his first two scheduled appearances for Notts it was Russell who was handed the responsibility of bowling the opening over of the match.
The highly-regarded all-rounder set the early tone by only conceding three runs from it.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore, with a century already in this season’s Blast competition, looked in ominously good form in racing to 30, helped by a slapped six over backward point off Harry Gurney.
The powerplay had delivered 54 runs for the Rapids but the start of the seventh over saw the stand broken as Mullaney bowled Kohler-Cadmore with his first delivery.
Moeen Ali had shared the opening stand and then kicked on by hitting Samit Patel back over his head for a maximum in an over that produced 14 runs.
His fun ended in the next, the ninth over, when another aerial shot failed to clear Russell at long off and the England man had gone for 40.
A slower ball from Russell bowled Ross Whiteley and the Jamaican also had Brett D’Oliveira caught in the deep by Jake Ball.
Alexei Kervezee had earlier been caught behind by Riki Wessels, from the bowling of Ball, leaving Clarke unbeaten at the end.
The Notts innings began in high farce with Ali bowling a high no ball, which saw Wessels dropped at square leg, then Michael Lumb hit the free hit straight to a fielder.
Lumb got into his stride by hitting the next two balls for boundaries as 11 came from the opening over.
A stunning catch by Clarke ended Lumb’s stay for just 12 and Alex Hales followed, caught at mid-on for just four.
Wessels played beautifully for his 36, made from only 26 balls, before falling to a catch by Ed Barnard.
Christian hit Ali for two big sixes and Mitchell for another but then lost two partners as both Patel and Greg Smith were bowled by D’Oliveira.
Notts’ two overseas stars combined with a match-defining partnership of 74, made from just 6.3 overs.
Russell made a cautious start – working singles around – before exploding with a couple of enormous maximums. One from the bowling of Joe Leach went completely out of the ground, to the side of the main pavilion.
With only six needed Russell fell, leaving Mullaney to stride to the middle and hit the winning runs.
The victory lifts Notts up to fourth in the North Group, with a trip to near-neighbours the Derbyshire Falcons to follow next Friday evening.
Notts Outlaws will face the Essex Eagles in the quarter-final of the NatWest T20 Blast on Monday 8 August, with tickets going on sale at 9.30am on Monday 1 August.