It’s a batsman’s game, twenty20 cricket. Or so everyone would have it believed. It’s the boundaries that grab the headlines, and attract crowds in their thousands to watch domestic cricket. But someone has to bowl at them in the first place, and often excellent performances with the ball are forgotten too soon.

What of the bowlers who have taken to the field in the Outlaws’ gold and green? There have been some special performances from excellent players. Here, in loose fashion, are five of the best.

Despite taking a back seat with the ball this season, Steven Mullaney was key to the Outlaws’ exploits in the shortest domestic format in recent years. His 35 wickets included a hugely fruitful 2010, in which he took 14. While Mullaney’s 4-19 against Leicestershire in 2012 was his best figures in the competition, his tightest figures came in 2010, all the way at Worcestershire, his 3-12 helping the Outlaws to a 6-wicket win. 

Before being snaffled by England for international duties, Graeme Swann made quite the impression for Notts Outlaws. 13 of his 38 t20 wickets came during the Outlaws’ ultimately ill-fated trip to finals day in 2006. He also loves bowling against Derbyshire, his best figures coming against the Outlaws’ local rivals

Perhaps unfairly pigeonholed as a one day player by England, Mark Ealham deserved more than the eight Test caps he managed to accrue. His quality in the shorter formats was unquestionable. In his five years with Nottinghamshire, Ealy’s quick right arm took more than 40 wickets. One more, to be precise. He claimed excellent three-wicket hauls in consecutive seasons from 2007-9, and with a reputation for hitting sixes, Ealham was a force to be reckoned with over twenty overs.

Since breaking through the Notts academy in 2002, Samit Patel has been ever-present in the Outlaws’ campaigns in the shorter formats. In a game where spin comes into play far more than over four days, Patel is the county’s leading t20 wicket-taker, with a handsome 85 to his name. 2010, as excellent as it was for Mullaney, saw Patel take 17 wickets. He’s also the go-to man for clashes against Derbyshire, it seems, on three occasions taking 3 for less than 25 conceded. Much is made of his prowess with the willow as well as leather, and his occasional presence in the England set up is fully justified for a player of his calibre.

Finally then, to the Outlaws’ finest t20 bowler. In t20 cricket, it’s hard to excel as a quick, but Darren Pattinson did just that. His record for the Outlaws speaks for itself. Of the 64 wickets he took in green and gold, 20 came from the 2010 campaign, and an astonishing 23 the following year.

That summer he took Warwickshire apart almost entirely on his own, Edgbaston stunned by his ruthless 5-25 (the best figures by a Notts bowler in the competition before Graeme White’s 5-22 last weekend). A year earlier he made Trent Bridge his hunting ground, taking apart Northants with 4-19, and 3-17 against Sussex.

While Samit has claimed the highest total for wickets taken, there’s nothing like the sight of stumps tumbling like matchsticks, accompanied by the customary gunshot crack from a searing fast delivery.

In a format where entertainment, not the batsman, is king, Pattinson gave the Outlaws all of that, and more.

Tickets for the Outlaws' Friends Life t20 quarter-final are already on sale to members with general sale beginning at 4.30pm on Thursday, initially from the Club's online box office.

Members can visit the Trent Bridge ticket office or call the ticket hotline from 9.30am on Thursday with ticket office and phone bookings accepted from all supporters from 9.30am on Friday.

Tickets for the Outlaws' Friends Life t20 quarter-final are now on general sale from our online box office.

Supporters can also visit the Trent Bridge ticket office or call the ticket hotline (0844 8118711) during office hours.

Friends Life t20 Quarter-Final Ticket information
Notts Outlaws v Essex Eagles, Thursday 8 August, 7.10pm CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

Ticket prices:
Buy before 4.30pm on Wednesday 7 August: 
Members - Adults £15 / Under 16s £8 / Over 65s £8
Non-members - Adults £17 / Under 16s £9 / Over 65s £9 / families (2+2) £43
On the day:
Adults £20 / Over 65s £20 / Under 16s £10 / Families (2+2) £50