Samit Patel and James Taylor combined in a match-winning, unbroken stand of 215 to maintain Notts Outlaws’ unbeaten start to the Royal London One Day Cup campaign.
Set to chase down 269 for their third win of the competition, Notts were seen to victory by 124 not out from Patel and an unbeaten 94 from Taylor.
The pair set a new fourth wicket record in one day cricket against Essex, with both batsmen facing 112 deliveries. Patel hit 13 fours and a six and Taylor hit seven fours and two maximums.
It was the first time Notts had beaten Essex since 2007 and their first victory at Chelmsford since 2000.
Earlier, the home side had totalled 268-8 after being put in by James Taylor. Jesse Ryder made an unbeaten 81 for the hosts, with Steven Mullaney (2-44), Imran Tahir (2-45) and Jake Ball (2-46), each taking two wickets apiece.
The run chase was the Outlaws’ third of the competition already and Mick Newell, Notts’ Director of Cricket, said how pleased he was with the effort.
“I think it’s probably the best of them," he said. "It was a good all-round performance today. We were very good with the ball, I thought and to restrict them to that score was an excellent effort. At fifty odd for three it was starting to look a little more difficult but two quality players saw us home.”
Newell was also delighted by the debut performance of his new overseas signing, Tahir. “I thought he was terrific. He’s a wicket-taking bowler and if he takes two wickets every time he bowls for us, we’ll be happy with that. He didn’t get the chance to bowl to any tail-enders but when he does I’m sure he’ll be crucial for us.”
Patel was delighted to see his side to victory. “I thought that was a great effort by all the boys today," he said. "They made it very hard for us and there was a bit of atmosphere about and the crowd were getting on our backs but we managed to quieten them down and knocked the runs off.
“I’m really happy with the way I’m batting at the moment and hope I can take that sort of form into the four-day games.”
Notts gave a debut to Tahir, the South African international who joined in midweek. His spell began with a high loosener which was thumped away for four. After that inauspicious start the spinner mesmerised the batsmen with a terrific spell of bowling which returned figures of two for 45 from his ten overs.
Both Mark Pettini, for 61, and Ravi Bopara, who scored 28 were bowled by balls that turned back through the defences, each producing identical scenes of jubilation as the 36-year old ran excitedly on mini-laps of honour.
Patel had earlier played a decisive role with the ball, parting the openers in his first over by trapping Tom Westley lbw for 38, with 80 on the board.
Ryder teased and tormented Notts with a couple of rushes of blood. Twice he got away with missed opportunities against the bowling of Steven Mullaney.
Gurney paid the price for the let-offs, as Ryder’s timing improved sufficiently to hit the first maximum of the contest, in the 41st over.
The closing overs saw the home side slide from 198 for three to their eventual total, with Notts having success against the other batsmen but coming under increasing pressure from Ryder.
Mullaney gained some deserved reward at last, firstly having Ryan ten Doeschate caught at long on by Wessels, for 25.
The same bowler accounted for James Foster, given out lbw sweeping across the line and then Jake Ball grabbed two wickets in quick succession.
Wessels pulled off a stunner to dismiss Graham Napier, Nick Browne was bowled without scoring and Kishan Velani was run out in the last over.
The wicket seemed to become more and more sluggish under hot skies as Hales and Wessels began the chase.
They added 42 together before Wessels was caught at third man off Masters for 21. Hales, on his 100th one-day appearance, pulled Napier away for a six but then chopped on in the same 13th over to leave the Outlaws on 55 for two.
Brendan Taylor departed first ball after edging Masters through to Foster. Patel looked in good touch from the very first ball he faced and he dominated the opening half hour of his partnership with James Taylor. Wristy shots on either side of the wicket, punctuated by the occasional flowing drive, arrested the initiative back.
The Outlaws’ skipper then began to accelerate also and joined his partner in passing fifty – Patel’s coming from 54 balls and Taylor’s from 67.
With every passing over the England internationals looked more and more secure as the board continued to tick around.
Patel reached his hundred from 96 balls and saw Notts over the line with a huge blow for six off ten Doeschate in the penultimate over.
The Outlaws now head to Liverpool, where they face Lancashire Lightning on Tuesday, in their next match in the competition.
Royal London One-Day Cup at Trent Bridge: Fixtures & Ticket Information
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