Ben Phillips played a deft flick for four to secure a three-wicket Duckworth-Lewis victory with one ball to spare as Notts Outlaws kept their Clydesdale Bank 40 hopes alive at Taunton.

Rain blighted the match with Somerset restricted to 156-6 from 19.2 overs with further downpours between the innings. After one further interruption, Notts were set a victory target of 143 from 16 overs.

“It’s never easy when rain interrupts a game like this but the crowd wanted to see some cricket and they’ve seen a great game in the end,” said Notts captain Chris Read who hit 42 from 22 balls.

“I looked at the pitch and ordinarily I would have batted but I felt that Duckworth-Lewis would help us in a rain affected game.

“We’ve still got a chance in this competition and we have to keep our eye on the other groups but if it comes down to winning the game against Lancashire at Trent Bridge then we’ll be delighted.”

In the absence of Alex Hales, Steven Mullaney was promoted to open alongside Riki Wessels but he lost his first two partners whilst maintaining a steady scoring rate as Notts began their run chase behind the Duckworth-Lewis par scores.

Wessels (5) and Darren Bravo (7) were both caught playing attacking shots and after Samit Patel joined him at the crease, Mullaney teed off with three consecutive boundaries. Patel played early having miscued Meschede’s slower ball to give Dockrell a simple catch at mid-on.

Mullaney reached his fifty before alert fielding from Trescothick saw him run out attempting a quick single, Elstone scored five before he was caught by Meschede diving at short third man but Paul Franks ably supported captain Chris Read as the Outlaws entered the final three overs needing 24 runs.

Read hit the final Ball of Alfonso Thomas’ penultimate over for four but Steve Kirby responded by bowling Franks (12) with a full toss at the top of the fourteenth over. After three singles, Kirby’s sixth delivery was hit high by Read but Dockrell dropped it to give Notts a reprieve. Read was caught by Hildreth to put nerves on edge once more but Phillips was assured under pressure against his former employers.

A noteworthy bowling effort from Luke Fletcher (3-27) capped a solid all-round display. Notts now top Group C although Somerset have two games in hand. Durham and Middlesex are the most likely challengers to any hopes Notts hold of qualifying as the best second-placed team.