Greg Smith says a trip to face the Birmingham Bears is an opportunity for Notts to mathematically nail down a NatWest T20 Blast quarter-final place, and secure a home tie in the knockout stages.
The 27-year-old right hander has posted scores of 32 in each of his last two knocks, helping the Outlaws extend their winning run to six matches.
“When I go in at number three in the power-play, regardless of what’s happening at the other end, I’m going to be positive,” said Smith.
“I’m happy with how I’m going in the competition, and you can see the confidence the lads are playing with.
“Dan Christian has called for us to play fearless cricket and to express ourselves, and that’s shining through in the way we’re going about it.
“It’s about putting in performances and improving. Until it’s black and white that we’ve got a home quarter-final it is all to play for.
“We don’t want to leave it to chance and numerical possibilities. We want to get it nailed.”
The Outlaws could call on the services of Jake Ball, who has been named in the squad after England trimmed their squad to 12 ahead of the Second Investec Test against Pakistan.
Smith believes the bowling unit as a whole has been instrumental in recent white ball successes.
“At Northampton and against Worcestershire, the guys with the pace off were superb,” he said.
“Against Yorkshire they didn’t have their best night out, but Fletcher & Gurney stepped up and were outstanding.
“Harry’s performance was outstanding in that game. In a game where guys went around the park, he got three for 16 off four overs.
“I know it’s cliched, but we’ve got match-winners in the team, it’s about them putting in performances and that’s been outstanding during the last few weeks.”
After easing to comprehensive victories over the Steelbacks and the Rapids, Smith sees the recent epic battle against Yorkshire – which was won by a Chris Read boundary with just two balls remaining – as a positive in terms of hardening the Outlaws for battles to come, starting with the Bears on Friday.
“Against Northants and Worcestershire in the two games before that we were clinical, so it was nice in a way to win a game when we weren’t so good,” he said.
“It was important for Samit and Ready to have runs because, when it comes to knockout stages, you need everybody firing.
“The whole batting line-up has scored runs now and guys have had to bowl in different circumstances when we haven’t had it all our way.
"It’s an exciting time for the team – and we have been growing for the last month.
"The games are only going to become more high pressure and more important, so we’ll find out in the next few weeks how good we are.
“I feel like we don’t really mind who we are playing against, but at the same time you’ve got to respect the Bears. They have performed well in T20 cricket over a number of years.
“They didn’t have their best night against Northamptonshire in the week, now they’re back on their own patch with lots to play for in the competition, so they’re a dangerous opponent for sure and will come out fighting.”
Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast Fixtures & Ticket Information
Vs. Leicestershire Foxes – Friday 29 July 6.30pm BUY TICKETS
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