Notts Outlaws returned to winning ways with an 11-run success over the Worcestershire Rapids in their latest NatWest T20 Blast match at New Road.
The Outlaws made 169-5 after being put in, with five batsmen making scores of between 27 and 36.
Darren Sammy finished as top scorer but, more importantly, his runs came right at the back end of the innings to send the Outlaws into the interval with a bit of momentum.
The Rapids were behind the rate from the mid-point of their chase and despite a 36 of their own, from Ross Whitely, they were bowled out for 158 with four balls remaining.
Samit Patel, with three for 17 and Luke Fletcher, who took three for 35, returned the leading figures for the visitors.
After seeing his side pick up their third win out of five Blast matches, Mick Newell praised his side, “I think it was a pretty decent performance by us in all aspects, It looked like we were in control,” he said.
“The last over of our innings, where Darren Sammy scored those runs, was pivotal in the overall outcome but that’s why him and players like him are so important to get in,” added the director of cricket.
“In their innings it was crucial to get Moeen out because he’s a guy who is capable of batting all the way through and getting 70 or 80.”
The Outlaws’ starting line-up included two changes from the side beaten by Leicestershire on Friday. New overseas signing Ben Hilfenhaus replaced Stuart Broad and Sam Wood came in for the rested Jake Ball.
Alex Hales, who made one championship appearance for Worcestershire last season, opened the batting with Riki Wessels, who made his Notts’ first class debut at New Road in 2011.
Neither batsman survived Jack Shantry’s opening over. Wessels was caught off the fifth ball, hoisting to Daryl Mitchell at mid off. The batsmen crossed whilst the ball was in the air and Hales nicked the next ball behind, chasing a wide one through to wicketkeeper Ben Cox.
Shantry was unable to pick up a hat-trick when he moved in for the third over and soon saw Steven Mullaney ping him back over his head for the first maximum of the day.
Brendan Taylor, who’d made 47 in Friday’s defeat, began in confident mood and timed his way to a quickfire 27, out of a partnership of 57.
As soon as the powerplay overs had been concluded, the Rapids took pace off the ball and saw Saeed Ajmal and Moeen Ali both strike in their first over.
Taylor was taken in the deep by a sliding Colin Munro and then Mullaney, who scored 29, stood aghast as Mitchell stuck up his right hand and claimed a reflex catch at short midwicket
Samit Patel and James Taylor began the rebuilding effort with a succession of singles but they should have been parted in the ninth over when a miscommunication found both players almost at the same end but Ross Whiteley’s poor return to ‘keeper Cox enabled Taylor to return to safety
Patel levered Ali over the midwicket fence for 6 to bring the 100 up but another mighty blow off Joe Leach brought about his downfall, as Tom Kohler-Cadmore clung on to a boundary catch to end his innings for 30.
That brought Darren Sammy to the crease and the big West Indian showed his immense power as he muscled his way to 36 not out from just 16 balls, hitting Shantry for three maximums in the final over, with James Taylor ending unbeaten on 35.
Ali and Mitchell began the reply by taking 34 from the first three overs but Notts struck back with two wickets, to restore the balance of power.
Luke Fletcher’s first delivery found Mitchell hitting straight to Wessels at extra cover for 13 and then Richard Oliver sliced high to Sam Wood for 9, giving Hilfenhaus his maiden wicket for his new county.
The Outlaws returned to their tried and tested format of taking pace off the ball as soon as the powerplay had finished, with Mullaney and Patel entering the attack.
Patel’s second ball picked up the important wicket of Ali, lbw for 36, reverse-sweeping. The spinner continued to work his way through the Rapids middle order, adding Colin Munro and Ben Cox to his list of victims.
Munro heaved away on the leg side but picked out Wessels and Cox was given out lbw.
Mullaney also got in on the act, picking up his 50th T20 wicket for Notts, as Brendan Taylor completed a sharp stumping to remove Kohler-Cadmore.
The end came quickly as Hilfenhaus shuttled one through the defences of Ed Barnard and Fletcher did the same to Leach to leave the score on 118 for seven.
Whiteley started to threaten, teeing off spectacularly as he blazed his way to 36 with four sixes but Harry Gurney bowled him in the 19th over and Fletcher collected his third wicket to sew up the match, courtesy of a stunning catch by James Taylor which ended Shantry’s resistance.
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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