SUPERB SMITH TON IN VAIN AS SANGAKKARA OUTCLASSES NOTTS

For the second season running Notts Outlaws fell at the semi-final stage of the Royal London One-Day Cup competition.

A brilliant innings of 166 by Kumar Sangakkara was the catalyst behind Surrey’s four-run victory at the Kia Oval.

The former Sri Lankan Test batsman made his runs from 138 balls, with 13 fours and a six, to lift the home side to a score of 300 for five. Gary Wilson added 48, with both Steven Mullaney (2-49) and Jake Ball (2-52) each taking two wickets for the visitors.

Notts overcame a dreadful start to take the match down to the final delivery, with Greg Smith having made his first century for the county on his way to making 124.

The equation came down to 92 needed from the last 10 overs and then six needed from the last ball but Steven Mullaney couldn’t lift Tom Curran over the ropes, leaving the hosts to contemplate a Lord’s Final against Gloucestershire Gladiators.

Harry Gurney and Stuart Broad shared the opening overs for the Outlaws and were rewarded with an early, important breakthrough. Steven Davies, the leading run-scorer in the group stages of the competition, made only four before nicking Gurney into the waiting hands of Riki Wessels at first slip.

New batsman Sangakkara had an early moment of embarrassment, having to dive full-length to beat a throw from Patel and completely demolished all three stumps in his leap for salvation.

Ben Foakes played some attractive strokes and made 42 in a partnership of 87 with the Sri Lankan before Mullaney trapped him lbw.

Sangakkara brought up his 50 from 55 balls, having hit just two boundaries, and found another willing partner in Rory Burns.

The two left-handers added 52 before Mullaney struck again. Burns, on 23, swept into the deep where Smith took an outstanding diving catch on the leg side fence.

That wicket fell in the 32^nd over and was the last that Notts would take until the final over. By then Sangakkara and Gary Wilson had put on 149.

Full of crisp drives, clever improvisation and subtle ramp shots, the Sri Lankan piled the pressure onto the fielding side but Notts saved any number of runs with their athleticism and enthusiasm.

Little went right for the visitors, as the rare times that either batsmen played a slightly false shot, it always fell to safety. Sangakkara’s ton came from 103 balls and he only needed 29 more to reach his 150.

A brilliant one-day innings came to an end with the first ball of the final over as an attempted reverse off Jake Ball sailed into the hands of Broad at short third man. Several Outlaws rushed over to shake hands with Sangakkara as he made his way from the field. Ball’s first success was followed by his second as Wilson, who made 48, hit down the ground and into the hands of Wessels.

The reply couldn’t have begun in a worse manner, with Notts reduced to one for two very quickly. Wessels chopped on to Sam Curran and then Brendan Taylor was adjudged lbw to the same bowler.

Michael Lumb made eight before nicking Jade Dernbach to Davies at second slip, leaving the total on 16 for three. Smith, called into the side for his List A debut for the Outlaws, was joined by Samit Patel and the pair re-built stylishly and put on 91 for the fourth wicket.

Patel appeared in some discomfort, with a leg injury, for much of his innings but ran his share of twos and threes to reach 50 from 72 balls, with five fours but then fell, for 51, lifting Zafar Ansari to mid on.

Smith had one scare when Sangakkara nearly caught him on the fence but he’d already touched the rope. His 50 came from 68 balls and he was joined in another outstanding partnership by Dan Christian.

Bright sunshine returned to the Oval but the ground was already being lit up by the hard-hitting Australian. He hit three enormous sixes; one into the middle tier of the pavilion, one into the Notts supporters congregated in the upper reaches of the OCS Stand and one high over midwicket.

Christian eventually fell for 54, chopping Aneesh Kapil into the hands of short third man, having bludgeoned his runs from only 43 balls.

Notts’ spirits were immediately lifted as Smith tickled Kapil for four to bring up his ton (117 balls, 6x4, 1x6).

The tempo fluctuated to and fro but Smith’s departure put Surrey back into the frame. Mullaney drilled the ball back straight and bowler Tom Curran was able to turn and throw down the stumps with the former Leicestershire man short of his ground.

19 were required from the last two overs but Chris Read was then bowled by Dernbach and Mullaney (42 not out) and Broad (3 not out) couldn’t quite get the Outlaws over the line.

Notts now turn their attentions to the LV= County Championship, with a home game against Durham coming up at Trent Bridge on Wednesday.

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