This season’s NatWest t20 Blast competition begins on Friday evening when Notts Outlaws host Lancashire Lightning in the first of their 14 group matches.
Neither county has won the competition during the eleven years it has been staged, with Notts twice reaching Finals Day, 2006, when they were runners-up and 2010.Lightning were losing finalists in 2005 and have reached the last four on three other occasions, 2004, 2007 and 2011.
The Outlaws have every incentive to make a positive start to their campaign, which begins with three consecutive home fixtures on each of the next three Friday evenings.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Notts Outlaws and Lancashire Lightning will be meeting for the 18th time in t20 competition with both sides having won eight matches apiece, with the 2012 game at Old Trafford being abandoned.At Trent Bridge the two county sides have met on nine previous occasions, with Notts holding a 7-2 advantage. Lancashire’s only successes came in 2007 and 2008 but they’ve lost on each of their last four visits.
LAST TIME
When the Outlaws and Lightning met at Trent Bridge last July they were both in the comfortable position of knowing that they had each already gained qualification from the North Group but still had every incentive to win the match.The side which came out on top would have that all-important home advantage in the quarter final draw.Lancashire won the toss and decided to field first but may have questioned that decision later as the home side racked up an impressive 194-6 with Alex Hales making 82 before being run out by Tom Smith.
The reply couldn’t have got off to a worse start as Steve Moore gave Samit Patel a return catch to the very first ball of the innings. Patel went on to take 3-34 but it was fellow left-arm spin-twin Graeme White who grabbed the headlines, with figures of 5-22, the best-ever by a Nottinghamshire bowler in t20 cricket.Lancashire folded in 16.5 overs for just 134 with former Outlaw Ashwell Prince top-scoring with 27.As it happened, neither county could make further progress in the competition, Notts lost at home to Essex in the quarters with Lancashire going down at the same stage to Hampshire at The Ageas Bowl.
HISTORY
The 2003 match at Trent Bridge was Lancashire’s first ever match in the new domestic t20 competition. Notts had played three days earlier, in the inaugural match, losing in the north east to Durham.Having had some match practice though they were too strong for the Red Rose, skittling them out for just 120 in 19.2 overs.Richard Logan claimed figures of 4-0-26-5 for the home side, with Warren Hegg provided the main resistance in scoring 45. Notts, captained by Paul Franks, cantered to their target to win by 7 wickets with 5 balls remaining, largely due to 58 from Kevin Pietersen.STATS – Notts v Lancs t20 at Trent BridgeHighest innings totals:
Notts 198-5 (2005)Lancs 178-4 (2012)
Lowest innings totals:
Notts 151-7 (2009)
Lancs 106 (2005)
Highest individual innings:
Notts SR Patel 84* (2007)Lancs SJ Croft 83* (2009)
Best bowling:
Notts 5-22 GG White (2013)
Lancs 4-21 SI Mahmood (2010)
Largest Margin of Victory
Notts 92 runs (2005)Lancs 9 wickets (2009)
T20 debuts
Notts GJ Smith (2003)
Lancs MB Loye, SG Law, CP Schofield, CL Hooper, IJ Sutcliffe, MJ Chilton, G Chapple WK Hegg, KW Hogg, SI Mahmood, PJ Martin (all 2003) PJ Horton (2005)
PLAYED FOR THEM BOTH
Over the past 40 years the likes of Jack Bond, Mark Crawley, Jason Gallian and Steve Elworthy have represented each county, as well as some more recent representatives.Current Old Trafford favourites Kyle Hogg and Ashwell Prince briefly spent time in Nottingham. Hogg played one championship match on loan in 2007 and South African batsman Prince played four first class matches for Notts in 2008 Steven Mullaney made four first class appearances for Lancashire before moving to Trent Bridge ahead of the 2010 season and Ajmal Shahzad spent much of the 2012 campaign in Manchester.
MILESTONES
Samit Patel is about to play his 99th t20 match for Nottinghamshire and has scored 1,924 runs for the county. In all t20 matches, home and abroad, he has collected 98 wickets. Chris Read had taken 47 catches in his 94 t20 matches.With 3,865, Michael Lumb is currently 21st on the all-time list of leading run scorers in t20 competition. He needs 2 runs to go past Kumar Sangakkara, 14 to go past Shoaib Malik and 31 to overtake Herschelle Gibbs.
Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast Fixtures & Ticket Information
v Lancashire Lightning - Friday 16 May 6.30pm BUY TICKETS
TICKET OFFER Adults £10 / U16s £5 / U21s £7 / Over 65s £7 (offer ends midnight 15/5/15)
v Worcestershire Rapids – Friday 23 May 6pm BUY TICKETS
v Durham Jets – Friday 30 May 6pm BUY TICKETS
v Birmingham Bears – Friday 13 June 6pm BUY TICKETS
v Derbyshire Falcons – Friday 20 June 6pm BUY TICKETS
v Yorkshire Vikings – Saturday 28 June 2.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Leicestershire Foxes – Sunday 20 July 2.30pm BUY TICKETS
Season tickets include access to all seven group stage home fixtures and a no rain guarantee. Click here to secure your seat. Adults £70 / Over 65s £49 / Families £175 / Under 21s £35 / Under 16s £25
Need more information? Call our ticket office on 0844 8118711.
Want the best seats in the house? Call 0844 8118712 for hospitality or click here for our £30 steak, chips and cricket package.
COVERAGE
BBC Radio Nottingham will provide ball-by-ball commentary on this and every Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast match this season. Sky Sports will also be providing live coverage.