OUTLAWS FRUSTRATED AS RAIN WASHES OUT KENT TIE

Notts Outlaws and Kent Spitfires were both able to maintain their unbeaten starts to the Royal London One-Day Cup after heavy rain prevented a finish in their clash at Trent Bridge.

After earlier interruptions had reduced the contest to 38 overs per side, Notts made 228 for seven after winning the toss, with Steven Mullaney making 62 from just 60 deliveries.

Kent, set to score 232 under the Duckworth-Lewis method, had reached 48 for two when the wet weather returned, with only 8 overs having been bowled by the home side.

 “It would have been interesting to see how it would have panned out, had we been able to get a full match in," said Mick Newell, Nottinghamshire's Director of Cricket.

"I think the wicket of Sam Northeast put us in a very strong position but the umpires had no choice but to come off when they did. Ultimately it’s a fair result, so we’ll take the point and move on.”

Chris Read, deputising as one-day skipper with James Taylor absent on England Lions duty, had won the toss and elected to bat first. Another Lion, Harry Gurney, was omitted from the starting eleven.

Shortly before play was due to start the first shower of the day interrupted the preparations, necessitating a 75-minute delay and reducing the match to 43 overs per side.

Sam Kelsall (5), playing his first competitive match for the Outlaws after two earlier games against touring sides, flashed loosely at Mitch Claydon in the fourth over and edged behind to Sam Billings.

The reduced 9-over powerplay saw Notts move on to 41-1 and the 50 came up after 10.3, with Steven Mullaney pulling Callum Haggett through the leg side.

Mullaney then hit both Darren Stevens and Haggett for straight-driven fours as their fifty stand came up in 60 deliveries.

Lumb (37) perished tamely, checking his shot from Stevens straight to James Tredwell at extra cover. Samit Patel faced one ball before the rains returned again.

The contest had been reduced to 38-overs per side when play resumed 40 minutes later.

Mullaney and Patel added 67 for the 3^rd wicket, with both men experiencing slight fortune as aerial hits landed safely.

Mullaney was put down on 28, in the covers by Sam Northeast and was then caught at deep midwicket by Alex Blake but the fielder had to release the ball back into play as he stepped over the ropes.

Having made his third one-day 50 last week at Cardiff, Mullaney (62) added a fourth (50 balls 5x4) and was within one of his career-best score at the SWALEC when he hit Claydon to long on.

Ben Harmison had Patel (33) taken at deep extra cover but the same bowler then ran into trouble as Riki Wessels launched him into the pavilion seats for the first maximum of the day.

Notts were further handicapped by the batting powerplay being reduced to just two overs but were intent on making the most of it. After four leg byes were conceded by Bollinger, Wessels (29) hit him for 2 fours and a six before being bowled.

James Franklin kept up the assault, hitting the Australian for two more sixes, one of them off a no-ball, before edging behind.

Sam Wood (1) fell cheaply in the pursuit of late runs but captain Read (18 not out) finished the innings in style, with a ramp shot going for four off Claydon, who finished with 3-37.

Kent lost Daniel Bell-Drummond in the first over of the chase, edging Jake Ball behind. Northeast should have followed to the same bowler, but was spilled by Patel at second slip.

Ben Harmison crashed 19 from 15 balls, with 3 fours and a huge 6 over long on, off Ball, but he lost his partner just as Kent had moved ahead on D/L.

Northeast’s vigorous pull off Shahzad was mistimed high into the air and as the bowler took the return catch the conditions deteriorated rapidly, leaving each side to content themselves with a point.

The only two undefeated sides left in the competition, Kent now move to the top of Group B, with 8 points from five matches, whilst the Outlaws sit third in the table, on 6 points from four matches.

Notts are next in action on Sunday when they face Surrey at home in the same competition and tickets are still £1 when bought in advance (deadline midnight on Saturday). Don't miss the chance to see Notts Outlaws return to 50-over action and secure your seats now.