Drizzly, wet conditions frustrated Notts Outlaws as they were made to settle for just one point from their NatWest T20 Blast match against Leicestershire Foxes at The Fischer County Ground.
The Outlaws scored a competitive 210 for eight from their allotted 20 overs but inclement weather then descended over the ground and the Foxes were unable to get to the crease to begin their reply.
In the 80 minutes of cricket that was possible Riki Wessels and Alex Hales continued their recent good form, with both batsmen scoring punishing half centuries.
The in-form openers, both having registered centuries in this season’s competition, put on 104 inside nine overs.
Wessels scored 63 from 37 balls and his batting partner made 51 from 28 balls as the Outlaws powered their way past 200 for the third time this season.
After being asked to bat first Notts were quickly on the front foot with their dynamic opening duo scoring 82 in the six powerplay overs.
Hales only hit one six during his explosive knock, launching a Dieter Klein no-ball over the ropes in the third over.
Wessels then hit two maximums off Clint McKay in the next over, the fourth. One of the blows went sailing high over deep square leg and went bouncing down Milligan Road.
The hundred was reached in 8.1 overs and a couple of balls later Hales reached his third consecutive 50 in this format, getting there from 27 balls, with eight fours and his six.
Next delivery, the England international was lured forward and was smartly stumped by Luke Ronchi, off Colin Ackermann
Hales’ last five scores in this competition have been 30*, 44, 63, 101 and now 51.
Tom Moores, again promoted to number three in the order, hit two sixes in his 19 but when he fell to a catch by Aadil Ali in the deep, Notts suddenly ran into some minor difficulties, slipping from 145 for one to 152 for five.
Wessels reached his 50 from 29 balls and went on to hit five fours and five sixes before departing as a reverse sweep flew straight to the fielder.
Klein found himself on a hat-trick as he bowled both Brendan Taylor and Samit Patel but Steven Mullaney withstood it and added 14 before clubbing McKay to long on.
Dan Christian hit 33 from only 22 balls and Billy Root was unbeaten on 14 after Ish Sodhi fell to Matt Pillans from the final ball of the innings.
Klein, Pillans and Callum Parkinson each claimed two wickets, with McKay and Ackermann also striking for the home side.
The Outlaws’ final total was their second largest total ever scored away from Trent Bridge, just behind the 220 they registered on the same ground in 2014.
Drizzle had begun to fall during the latter part of the innings and it intensified during the break.
Hopes of a resumption were raised when the rain briefly stopped and the players started their warm-up but another downpour brought a premature end to the evening’s entertainment.
The point lifts Notts up into fifth place in the North Group, with two further matches this week in the NatWest T20 Blast.
On Friday evening they make the short trip to Derby to face Derbyshire Falcons before returning home to host Durham Jets at Trent Bridge on Saturday afternoon.
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