The Nottinghamshire Academy fell to a six-wicket defeat at the hands of a strong Rolls Royce side. Posting 220-7 from their 50 overs, the Academy came up against strong batting performances from Adeel Shafique and Luke Fletcher, the visitors passing the target in the 47th over.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Hassan Azad and Sam Kelsall progressed steadily, reaching 59 before Liam Andrews had Azad caught by Phillips. Tom Rowe added 13 before being forced to retire with an injury. Alongside Sam Wood, Kelsall reached his 50 before being caught off Roberts.
Matt Cross came in and left without scoring, and Adam Tillcock scored 15 before being caught behind by Shafique, giving Roberts his second. At 142-4 Sam Wood and Brett Hutton shared a stand of fifty, Wood firing his way to 67 before being caught off Luke Fletcher, before Hutton was caught sharply by James Taylor in the same over.
George Bacon took the Academy past 200, quickly firing 16, before being caught off Phillips in the penultimate over. Andrew Parkin-Coates and Luke Wood saw the final balls off, closing the innings on 220-7.
The Rolls Royce reply started quickly, Dan Birch and Adeel Shafique reaching 65 inside the first ten overs, before Ben Kitt had Birch caught behind for 36 in the 17th. He then bowled James Taylor with the next ball, which saw Luke Fletcher come to the crease.
Shafique then reached his 50 in the 21st and by the drink break the visitors were 104-2. Sam Wood and Adam Tillcock did their best to restrict the batsmen with their spin, but by the time Tillcock accounted for Shafique, his 84 made up half of Rolls Royce’s 167-3. Sub fielder Paul Johnson caught Lungley for 2 off Tillcock, but Fletcher (66*) and Ben Phillips (26*) took the visitors past the target in the 47th, sealing a win for Rolls Royce by 6 wickets.