OUTLAWS TITLE DEFENCE OFF TO AN IDEAL START AGAINST LANCASHIRE

A magnificent performance from captain Steven Mullaney helped Notts Outlaws begin their defence of the Royal London One-Day Cup with a victory.

Mullaney scored 70, took 1-56 with the ball and claimed a couple of catches to lead his side to a 9-run victory over Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford.

The home side appeared well set to seal the two points after they had reached 288-5 in pursuit of a victory target of 319, with Keaton Jennings on an unbeaten century.

Harry Gurney, who took three for 61, then removed the left-hander- to instigate a late order collapse as the hosts finished on 309-9.

Jennings, who scored 126 against Notts in the County Championship at the weekend, scored 136, making his runs from 129 balls with 11 fours.

Earlier, Notts had made 318 before being bowled out in 49.5 overs, after winning the toss and opting to bat first.

Mullaney made his runs from only 54 deliveries, hitting eight fours and a six. He was backed up by 52 from Chris Nash and 58 from Ross Taylor.

Leg-spin bowler Matt Parkinson took career best figures of five for 68 for the hosts.

The start of the afternoon brought confirmation of several one-day debuts for Notts. Nash, Taylor and Tom Moores had not played in this format for the county and Will Fraine, the 21-year old Durham MCCU captain, was included for his first senior appearance.

Only five of the eleven that played in last July’s Lord’s final were involved, including Nash, who opened with Riki Wessels when play began at 2pm.

Lancashire’s opening bowlers were still in operation when Tom Bailey struck in the ninth over, Wessels caught behind for 23, trying to scoop the ball over ‘keeper Alex Davies.

Moores was quickly into his work and launched the spin of Stephen Parry over midwicket for the first six of the day.

His partnership with Nash rattled past 50 and on to 84 before the home side made further inroads. Jennings, on as the eighth different bowler to be employed, made a devastating impact by removing both set batsmen within his first seven deliveries.

Nash, who had reached his 50 from 58 balls with five fours, fell to a leading edge catch in the off side, whilst Moores, who made 47 from 49 balls, was fractionally out of his ground as Davies completed a sharp stumping.

Notts had to rebuild once more when Samit Patel unluckily chopped a delivery from Joe Mennie onto his stumps, to depart for only 14.

Mullaney and Taylor added 84 together in 13.2 overs, to take Notts to 248 for five.

Taylor’s 50 was brought up with a huge six over midwicket, off Jordan Clark. The milestone arrived from 55 deliveries and also contained four boundaries. Going for another monstrous hit, he perished one over later, finding Bailey in the deep off Parkinson.

Lancashire handed the gloves to Vilas for the final five overs, after Davies sustained a blow to the hand.

In the pursuit of quick runs Billy Root fell to Parkinson for six and Fraine made 13 from 11 balls on debut.

Mullaney had reached his half century from only 45 balls and his stand-out innings came to an end when he skewed the leg spinner to cover.

Luke Fletcher hit a six and a four but was left unbeaten on 12 as Jake Ball and Harry Gurney fell to first ball ducks.

Fletcher was involved in the thick of the action at the start of the run chase, removing Davies for 12 in the fifth over, as the right-hander spooned up an offering to Mullaney at mid off.

The Outlaws attack and fielders were put under pressure as Jennings and Liam Livingstone added 70 in 11 overs for the second wicket.

Livingstone hit Mullaney for a huge maximum but then fell lbw to Gurney for 33.

Vilas helped add 63 for the next wicket before his innings ended on 41, with Fraine holding a safe catch in the deep, off Mullaney.

Jennings looked untroubled throughout his innings, reaching his ton from 98 balls, with nine fours – with 103 still required from the final 14 overs.

There were still 76 needed from the final 10 overs when Patel struck for the first time, having Croft caught off a top-edge by Fletcher at short third man, for 33.

The Outlaws experience of winning tight contests kicked in as the game moved towards it’s conclusion.

With only 30 required, Jennings pulled Gurney tamely to Taylor. It was the confidence-boost that Mullaney’s side needed.

Ball removed Mennie and Lilley in his next over – the 48th – and suddenly – all the momentum had moved to the holders.

Gurney bowled Parry for nought – and with 16 required from the final over, Ball shone and Lancashire’s chance had gone, leaving the Outlaws to celebrate their first one-day win at Old Trafford since 1991.

Notts return to action in the Royal London One-Day Cup on Sunday, when they host Northants Steelbacks at Welbeck CC (11am start).

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