Scorecard

A career-best bowling performance from Samit Patel pushed Nottinghamshire back into the quarter-final places in the Friends Provident Trophy as the Outlaws saw off Ireland by two wickets.

Patel picked up 6-13 from seven overs in a rain-reduced match which saw Notts choose to field first in damp conditions in Dublin.

The hosts got off to a solid start, reaching 50 before Patel struck to remove both openers Jeremy Bray and Reinhardt Strydom, with the pair out stumped looking to attack.

The slow pitch offered plenty of assistance for Patel’s left-arm spin and he chipped away at the Ireland batting order, picking up Notts triallist Kevin O’Brien for 22 and Andrew White in his last two overs for the finest haul of his career in any form of cricket.

Darren Pattinson also picked up a wicket on his return from an ankle injury while Luke Fletcher continued his fine start to the season with a victim of his own in the final overs.

Ireland’s total of 140-8 from their 34 overs proved a testing one to chase, with Mark Wagh lbw in the opening stages.

Ali Brown made a useful 32 and Alex Hales 15 but Patel struggled to get the ball off the square and when he was out lbw, Adam Voges was run out without adding to the score.

Brown’s dismissal left Notts at 77-5 before Will Jefferson and Chris Read put on 42 for the sixth wicket, with Will Jefferson making 31.

The visitors needed 14 off the last two overs and despite seeing Ryan Sidebottom run out, Paul Franks and Luke Fletcher held their nerve to secure the win with just a ball to spare.

Victory moved Notts a point ahead of Hampshire and into second place in Group A behind Worcestershire, who are a further point ahead but have played a game more - a wash-out against Leicestershire at Grace Road.

Notts travel to Leicester on Tuesday before finishing with a home match against Hampshire on Wednesday.

Given that Hampshire and Worcestershire both still have to face the winless Irish, two wins may still be needed by Notts to guarantee their place in the quarter-finals.