Samit Patel and James Taylor shared an unbroken stand of 95 to guide Notts Outlaws to a seven-wicket victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the Natwest T20 Blast at Trent Bridge.

Chasing 174, the pair came together at 80-3 but Patel hit 58, with Taylor providing ample support with 38, as the pair took Notts to their target with nine balls to spare, Michael Lumb making 45 at the top of the order to kick-start the chase.

Josh Cobb had hit a career best 84, with good support from Ben Duckett and Adam Rossington, taking Northants to what looked a competitive total. However, Patel and Taylor ensured Notts cruised home to end a run of three successive defeats in the competition.

The Outlaws reply had got off to a shaky start after Alex Hales, who was making his return to Trent Bridge, made only one before pulling Olly Stone high into the hands of Ben Duckett, but Michael Lumb got the Outlaws reply off and running with 16 off Kleinveldt in the third over.

Lumb hit Stone for four boundaries from the final over of the powerplay on his way to 45 off 27, but fell in the next over sweeping Graeme White to deep square leg.

Riki Wessels pulled Rob Keogh for six, but after reaching 22 in relatively risk free fashion, tried to scoop Muhammed Azharullah over the keeper and only succeeded in giving Keogh a simple catch at short third man.

The hosts needed 78 from eight overs, but Patel and Taylor took 28 from the next two to put the Outlaws in command, Patel with a huge straight six off White.

Ahead of the required rate, Patel and Taylor could just milk the singles, together with the odd boundary, before Taylor pulled Stone for six and then taking two further fours, as 17 came from the 17th over to take Notts to the brink.

Stone put down a tough chance running in from midwicket off Patel, who moved to a 32 ball 50 by pulling Kleinveldt for four, and finished the job two balls later with his fifth boundary to go with a six. Taylor facing 23 balls for his 38.

The pair needed only 52 balls for their stand as they made light work of a challenging total, after Cobb batted throughout the inning, falling to the final ball, to reach a career best, hitting three sixes and seven fours in his 56 balls.

The visitors got off to a sluggish start as Richard Levi struggled with his timing, before falling LBW to Hilfenhaus for nine, but Cobb got going, pulling Ball for four and six as they ended the powerplay 44-1.

Together with Duckett, Cobb added 75 for the second wicket, combing the odd boundary with good running and clever shot placement to ensure the visitors kept ticking over without truly bursting into life.

Cobb has his share of luck, seeing two tough catches put down by Steven Mullaney, off his own bowl, and James Taylor, but brought up his second half century of the season in 31 balls.

The former Leicestershire man hit the accelerator taking 17 off Dan Christian’s first over, but Duckett soon fell as he holed out to long-on off Mullaney, who bowled tidily for 1-28 off his four overs.

Steven Crook and Rory Kleinveldt came and went as Northants threatened to lose momentum, the later well caught by keeper Wessels after edging Hilfenhaus between his legs, but Adam Rossington ensured the visitors would end with a flourish.

The keeper hit four fours and a six in his 11 balls 28, as the Steelbacks added 36 from the final 15 deliveries, Cobb moving past his previous career-best of 80 before being run out attempting a suicidal second from the final ball.

 

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