Samit Patel guided Nottinghamshire to a simple 33-run win over Lancashire Lighting in the first NatWest T20 blast of the season.

In front of a near 11,000 strong crowd, Patel’s 56 and 2-25 proved the difference between the two sides. 
The all-rounder praised the crowd for lifting the Outlaws is hoping for more evenings like that in the coming months.

“The crowd was absolutely brilliant tonight and if we can put a show on every game like that then hopefully they will keep coming through the door,” Patel said.

“It’s a huge difference when you play in front of a crowd like that. Lads like myself, Hales, Lumb and Taylor thrive off it and it makes us play better.”

With the 33-run margin coming mostly from good ground fielding and tight bowling, Patel revealed it is something the team pride themselves on. 

“It is compulsory to field well in T20 cricket and we aim to not let each other down when we are out their.
“We train hard and it is a great credit to the lads that we have kept up those standards in the game and what we need to do now is the keep it going.” 

The game was also the first under the new one-day captaincy of James Taylor and Patel thinks proceedings went as smoothly as ever.

“Most stuff is self explanatory and we all know before the game when we are going to bowl our overs and what our role is. 

“We got all the basics right today and put them in to one performance and we need to carry that on throughout the competition.”

The Outlaws will also be hoping that Patel’s form continues and the man himself is looking to kick on from where he has started in the season.

“I am happy with the way I am hitting the ball at the moment and I just need to keep working hard and keep moving forward.”

The Outlaws will resume their NatWest T20 Blast campaign at home to Worcestershire Royals on Friday.