Notts Outlaws reached the final of the Barbados T20 Cup for the third year in a row after eliminating Combined Campuses and Colleges in a one-sided semi final at the 3Ws Oval.
The Outlaws had 5.1 overs to spare as they chased down a modest victory target of 98 to complete a 9-wicket success.
Steven Mullaney claimed his second man of the match award for the weekend with bowling figures of four for 22 as the local side struggled on a wicket made slightly tacky after overnight rain.
After electing to bat first the students were immediately on the back foot as Luke Fletcher and Jake Ball each struck inside the first 14 deliveries of the innings.
A partnership of 38 between Kavem Hodge (28) and Craig St Hill (13) held Notts at bay for a while but it was a painfully slow partnership, occupying 9.2 overs.
Mullaney bowled St Hill in his second over and in his third he picked up three wickets, including Hodge, who had scored an unbeaten 159 when the sides had met in midweek.
A good leaping catch at mid off from Brett Hutton gave Fletcher (two for 16) his second wicket and then a horrible mix up enabled Samit Patel to return the ball to Chris Read with both batsmen at the other end.
A score of 97 for eight was never likely to trouble the Outlaws, who promoted Sam Wood to open alongside Smith.
The pair put on 86 for the first wicket, with Smith the man to fall for 37, made from 35 balls.
Wood had a couple of slices of fortune, being spilled at short fine leg and then at long off. On the second occasion the fielder dropped the catch and seemingly allowed the ball to roll back over the rope but only a single run was awarded.
Nevertheless Wood ended on 51 not out, hitting 4 fours and a 6 in his 49-ball knock.
Patel quickly saw Notts over the line by hitting the winning runs, finishing on 8 not out, with a 6 and a 2.
The second semi final saw Northants beat Hampshire by 32 runs to set up a repeat of last year’s tournament final.
David Willey and Rob Newton both made half centuries as Northants reached 170 for five. Willey also picked up two wickets but Hampshire came unstuck against the slower bowlers with Saif Zaib, Josh Cobb and Rob Keogh taking seven for 60 between them in the middle overs as Hampshire slumped to 138 all out.
In the Plate Final, played at Carlton CC, Warwickshire defeated a Barbados Select X1 by 32 runs.
The excitement of the NatWest T20 Blast returns to Trent Bridge in May as Notts Outlaws hope to break the 10,000 barrier for the arrival of reigning champions Birmingham Bears on Friday 15 May.
Adult tickets are available at a special price of £10 and further discounts in place for under 16s (£5), under21s (£7) and senior citizens (£7) when buying in advance. Make Trent Bridge a firm fixture for your Friday nights and secure your seats now.