After two nerve-wracking last-ball victories in a matter of days, Nottinghamshire Director Of Cricket Mick Newell has praised the spirit of his side playing under the pressure of must win games.
James Taylor’s 33* from just 21 balls guided the Outlaws to a three-wicket victory with the last ball over Lancashire Lightning on Wednesday.
That followed a two-run win over local rivals Derbyshire Falcons last Friday and, speaking ahead of Friday's trip to Durham, Newell is hopeful of continuing the late surge towards the top four and qualification for the knockout stages.
“It will be a tough game up at Durham," said Newell. "They are almost out of qualification range but will want to put one over us after we beat them at Trent Bridge earlier in the season.
“We have some momentum after those two victories but we knew we had to win four out of four, so we have two more to go.
“They are still finals for us and that is what we are looking at them as.
“What has impressed me is that we have been battling away under massive pressure and showing a lot of spirit.
“We haven’t played the perfect game of T20 in a long while, you probably have to go back to the Bears at the start of the season for one of our best games.
“There has been a track record over the past few years of teams coming from behind to sneak into the quarter-finals and that is what we are aiming to do.”
Newell reserved special praise for captain Taylor, whose knock took the Outlaws over the winning line from the unlikely position of needing 13 to win from the last six balls, more than had been scored off any other over in the match.
“James can back himself to pull of those knocks because he has a track record of finishing games off and winning for Notts,” Newell said.
“Whether it be 100 or ten not out, he always seems to be there at the end and always wants to be the batsman able to walk off having won the game.
“There has been loads of character and strength over the last few weeks, whether it be Harry coming back against Derbyshire or Mull bowling the spell he did against Lancashire.
“For large periods of the game against Lancashire we were on the front foot with the ball and in the field.
“Our ground fielding was brilliant for the second game running and the run out from Sam Wood epitomised that.
“I am really encouraged by what I have seen from the bowling and fielding perspective.”
Newell has named an unchanged squad for the trip to Durham Jets as they bid to make it three from three in the NatWest T20 Blast.
Notts Outlaws squad to face Durham Jets (from): Jake Ball, Dan Christian, Will Gidman, Harry Gurney, Alex Hales, Brett Hutton, Michael Lumb, Steven Mullaney, Samit Patel, Chris Read, James Taylor, Riki Wessels and Sam Wood.
Notts Outlaws will next be in action with the return of 50-over cricket for the Royal London One Day competition throughout July and August starting with a weekend at Welbeck Cricket Club. Don't miss out on the next step of our summer of cricket and secure your seats now.