Notts Outlaws got off to a disappointing start in the Royal London One-Day Cup competition, going down by 5 wickets (under the Duckworth-Lewis method) against Worcestershire Rapids at New Road.
The Outlaws powered their way to a total of 273 for six, thanks to the eighth List A century of Michael Lumb’s career.
Lumb made 104 and there were also solid contributions of 46 from Billy Root, on his county one-day debut, and 44 from Samit Patel, as the Outlaws responded to being inserted on a grey, overcast morning.
Rapids’ skipper Joe Leach picked up figures of three for 50 and there were two wickets for Moeen Ali but the start of their run chase was delayed by two hours due to persistent drizzle and the occasional heavy shower.
When the weather relented, a revised target of 168 from 22 overs was set.
The hosts crossed the finishing line with 12 balls remaining to claim the two points. Ross Whiteley was the difference, bludgeoning 41 not out from only 19 balls to seal the victory.
Peter Moores was understandably disappointed to begin the white ball season with a loss. “It’s always tough when you get beat but all credit to them,” he said.
“I thought Whiteley came in and played really well for them. It sometimes hurts you more when you lose a rain-affected game when you field second but he struck the ball beautifully.”
Notts’ Head Coach paid tribute to Lumb, who replicated his feat of a year ago in opening the campaign with a hundred.
“Michael played well,” said Moores. “He paced it nicely and we weren’t far off a par score but once the game gets reduced it gets tougher.
“Billy (Root) played really well on debut and played his own game. It was nice to see him confident to play his shots from ball one.”
The start of the match was played beneath a canopy of dark, threatening clouds.
Lumb expertly picked up a John Hastings delivery in the eighth over and lifted him high over the midwicket ropes for six, following it with a clip off his hips for four.
With steady drizzle falling, the ninth over began and Alex Hales pushed down the ground for a couple. His next delivery, the third of the over, beat the defensive lunge and thudded into the pad for a successful lbw appeal.
Riki Wessels made his way out to the middle and took guard but the umpires decided that the conditions had deteriorated and led the players from the field for a brief stoppage.
Notts moved to 43 for one at the end of the first batch of powerplay overs and just about doubled that from the next 10, losing Wessels for 18 as he found Ross Whiteley in the deep off Ed Barnard.
Patel looked in imperious touch from the start of his knock and moved from 21 to 35 in three hits off Jack Shantry – taking him for six – four – four from consecutive deliveries.
His next six sailed over deep extra cover off Ali and clattered into the walls of the new hotel. A repeat looked inviting but he slightly under-cooked the shot and Shantry pouched a valuable catch to end his stay on 44 and end a partnership of 65 made in only 12 overs.
Lumb had worked his way from 31 to 47 by taking 17 consecutive singles but he brought up his 50 with a slash to the point fence off Shantry, reaching the landmark from 75 balls, with five fours and a six.
Brendan Taylor was stumped off Ali for 10 but Root played a fine hand in the middle of the innings, adding 84 in 12.4 overs for the fifth wicket with Lumb.
The debutant made 46 from 42 balls, with three boundaries and a maximum – slog swept off Ali - but he drove Leach to Kohler-Cadmore when looking set for his half century.
Lumb accelerated in princely fashion to 95 with a huge six off Shantry and reached his fourth one-day ton for Notts off 124 balls, with seven fours and three sixes.
Edging Leach behind, the left-hander eventually departed in the 48th over but Chris Read and Stuart Broad plundered a further 27 to ensure a challenging total was set.
Rain set in during the scheduled interval and it wasn’t until 5.15pm that play resumed. Worcestershire took 20 from the opening two overs but were then pegged back as the next two took their total to 25.
Jake Ball bowled the fifth over and removed both Kohler-Cadmore and Ali to tilt the balance towards the Outlaws.
Joe Clarke, with 40, played a fine innings to keep his side in it but then hit Luke Fletcher to Wessels at cover.
Patel bowled Brett D’Oliveira for 23 to leave the score on 101for four but any hopes Notts had of exerting further pressure disappeared in an instant, as Whiteley began to unleash some big shots.
He hit four fours and two sixes, just as Notts looked to keep it tight and hit the winning runs with two overs to spare.
Notts are next in action on Saturday, when they face Yorkshire Vikings at Trent Bridge in their second Royal London One-Day Cup match.