Notts Outlaws are now just one match from reaching finals day in this summer’s NatWest T20 Blast, and will host Hampshire at Trent Bridge on Sunday afternoon (play starting at 2.30).

Seamer Jake Ball has celebrated the strength of the Outlaws’ attack, attributing their success in taking vital wickets and bowling miserly spells to targeted practice with bowling coach Andy Pick.

“He has the targets out in practice before every game,” he said. 

"We’re always looking to hit our Yorkers as consistently as possible. If you nail it, it’s never going for six. The most you’ll get is four and it’s a very hard ball to hit. We all practice hard and its coming off for us at the moment. 

“The fact that we haven’t had a lot of practice time might have helped, because what we’ve done has been very specific to each individual team and that’s really helped us.” 

Mansfield-raised Ball has been a favourite with Nottinghamshire fans since breaking into the Outlaws side. After being instrumental in taking his side to the final of the Yorkshire Bank 40 competition last year, taking career-best figures of 4-25 against Somerset, he is aiming to repay the fans’ backing and propel them to finals day.

“I love it; I’ve played the last two home quarter-finals,” he said.

“Coming into the ground and seeing Trent Bridge fill up and walking out infront of crowds in excess of 10,000 as a Nottinghamshire lad, is something that money can’t buy. 

“The Twenty20 matches here this season have been magnificent. The fans here deserve a home quarter-final win. They keep coming every year and we owe them one.

“It’s about not being complacent. We’ve proven that if the batsmen don’t come off then the bowlers can dig us out. 

“It’s going to be a high-scoring game, but I think we’ll come out on top.”

 

Tickets remain on general sale with the Trent Bridge ticket office opening hours extended to 4pm on Saturday. Click here to secure your seats.

NatWest T20 Blast Quarter-Final Ticket Prices:

In advance (before midnight on Saturday 2 August)
Public:
£16 - Adults
£12 – Over 65s and Under 21s
£8 – Under 16s
£40  - Family ticket (2 adults + 2 under 16s)
Members:
£15 - Adults
£10 – Over 65s and Under 21s
£5 – Under 16s

On the day:
£20 - Adults
£15 – Over 65s and Under 21s
£10 – Under 16s
£50 – Family ticket (2 adults + 2 under 16s)