On the last occasion the Yorkshire Vikings visited Trent Bridge, it was an eventful encounter to say the least.
The visitors were asked to bat by Outlaws skipper Dan Christian and it initially looked as if the Australian may come to regret that decision.
Adam Lyth and Tom Kohler-Cadmore began proceedings and got the White Rose off to a flyer, taking 83 runs from the powerplay, before Steven Mullaney broke the partnership with the first ball of the seventh over removing Kohler-Cadmore for 37.
However, Lyth advanced to his fifty from 26 balls and reached 59 but he became one of Samit Patel’s three victims as they Outlaws all-rounder finished with figures of 3-29 from his four overs.
The Australian duo of Shaun Marsh (47) and Peter Handscomb (31) added quickfire runs for the Vikings, who ended on 223-5, which was the second highest ever domestic T20 score at Trent Bridge following the Green and Golds 227-3 against Derbyshire just nine days prior.
With a formidable task head of them, the Outlaws needed to get off to a rapid start of their own and Riki Wessels and Alex Hales did just that.
The opening pair plundered 87 from only 5.4 overs but Wessels fell for 34 just before the end of the powerplay after being caught by Lyth off the bowling of Azeem Rafiq.
Hales powered on however, with his fifty coming from only 18 balls and the Outlaws bringing up the hundred in only eight overs.
The destructive batsman continued and reached his first century in Notts colours from only 45 balls, hitting 14 fours and four sixes in his sublime hundred.
Hales eventually fell for 101 in the 15th over following an 83-run partnership with Brendan Taylor, who made 41, with the score 177-3.
When Taylor departed the following over, the Green and Golds still had work to do on 184-4 with four overs remaining.
A 15-ball 24 from Dan Christian helped the Outlaws get within touching distance of the total needing 17 from the final two overs.
But up stepped Steven Mullaney, who’s flurry of 17 from just six balls carried Notts over the line, with the winning runs coming from a big six smashed straight back down the ground by the Lancastrian.
Finishing on 225-5, the chase was the highest ever recorded by the home side and put the Outlaws on course to reach the knockout stages of the competition in a tightly fought North Group.
Notts will be hoping for a repeat of last year’s triumph when the Vikings visit Trent Bridge on Friday (August 10) in a pivotal T20 Blast fixture.
***********
Secure your seats for Notts Outlaws v Yorkshire Vikings on Friday 10 August at 6:30pm here...