Notts Outlaws lost their latest NatWest T20 Blast fixture when they were defeated by seven wickets, under the Duckworth Lewis method, by Birmingham Bears at Edgbaston.
The Outlaws made 149 for nine from their 20 overs, after being put in to bat, with Riki Wessels top scoring with 39. Oliver Hannon-Dalby shone with the ball for the defending champions by taking four for 29.
Rain interrupted the hosts’ reply and they chased down their reduced target of 98 from 11 overs with four balls to spare.
William Porterfield led the chase, finishing with an unbeaten 37 to his name, after Ian Bell had fallen for 38.
The Outlaws starting eleven showed two changes from the weekend win at Worcester, with Greg Smith and Jake Ball coming in for Alex Hales and Harry Gurney.
They were boosted by the ECB’s decision to allow James Taylor to play in the match, after he’d been omitted from England’s starting eleven in the One Day International at the Oval.
Steven Mullaney opened up the innings with Wessels but the pair were parted at the end of the second over as Porterfield ran back from point to circle underneath Mullaney’s uppish slice off Hannon-Dalby.
Wessels kicked on impressively, taking 21 from Jeetan Patel’s initial over, the fifth of the innings. He’d looked in good touch until falling to the final ball of the powerplay for 39, charging Recordo Gordon and looping the ball to cover. His runs had been made from 19 balls, with three fours and three sixes.
Brendan Taylor made 15 before drilling Rikki Clarke to mid off and a fourth wicket fell in the first half of the innings when Samit Patel was bowled by Jeetan Patel for 4, attempting a reverse sweep.
Smith fell to an lbw decision against Josh Poysden, missing out on a low full toss for 9. Darren Sammy joined his captain at the crease in the twelfth over but the pair weren’t able to emulate their weekend heroics.
Both made 23 before falling, Taylor out lbw to Clarke and the St Lucian caught at long on, off Hannon-Dalby who then had Sam Wood caught from the next delivery.
Ben Hilfenhaus became Hannon-Dalby’s fourth victim, leaving Jake Ball to whack the big pace bowler for six from the final delivery of the innings.
Hilfenhaus was soon back in action with the ball and had Chopra caught at slip by Wessels from the fourth ball of the reply. The rains that had been around the second city all day then returned and drove the players back to the dressing room.
The adjusted target saw the Bears go on the attack as Notts had to cope with a wet outfield and damp ball. Bell and Porterfield imposed themselves from the off, both clearing the ropes with relative comfort.
Bell scored his runs from 24 balls with two fours and three maximums and seemed to be on course to see the Bears home before picking out Wessels on the ropes, off Sammy.
Wessels’ third catch of the evening came just before the end, again at long on, to remove Laurie Evans from the bowling of Ball.
Fletcher was left to bowl the final over, with only two needed, and Porterfield lifted the ball over extra cover for the win.
The Outlaws have now won three and lost three of their opening six matches, ahead of a trip to Headingley next Friday, where they will face Yorkshire Vikings.
Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast Fixtures & Ticket Information
v Northants Steelbacks – Saturday 27 June 2.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Worcestershire Rapids – Friday 3 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Derbyshire Falcons – Friday 10 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS
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