Notts Outlaws are within touching distance of their third Lord’s one-day final in seven years. The Outlaws stormed through the qualifying rounds and now face Somerset in the semi-finals of the Royal London One-Day Cup.

The match will take place at Trent Bridge, with the winners advancing to the showpiece occasion in London in two weeks’ time.

Somerset have reached this stage of the competition after sneaking out of the South Group in third place, getting through on a superior run rate after finishing level on points with Gloucestershire.

The Cidermen then defeated Worcestershire Rapids by 147 runs in their play-off match at New Road on Friday.

North Group winners Notts won six out of their eight matches and gained a further point when their tie against Durham at Grantham was washed away.

Head-To-Head

Nottinghamshire and Somerset have come together in 58 previous one-day matches, including a final and a semi-final.

Notts have won 22 and lost 31 of the matches, with two further contests finishing as ties. The remaining three fixtures were all lost to the rain.

Last Time

The most recent match between the two counties at Trent Bridge was in the group stages of the 2014 competition, where the most dramatic of contests finished in a tie.

Notts Outlaws posted 261 for eight after being put in, with James Franklin top-scoring with an unbeaten 59 and Somerset finished on exactly the same score after Tim Groenewald and Alfonso Thomas scrambled a single from the final ball of the match.

Thomas was then run out going for a cheeky second run but the umpires confirmed they had called time as the ball had gone dead.

Somerset looked to be well on course for the win after an opening stand of 125 in 25.2 overs between Marcus Trescothick and Nick Compton in their chase but once both had departed Notts began to make regular inroads, with Jake Ball taking three for 57 and Harry Gurney finishing with three for 62 in the fightback.

Seven were needed from the final over but Luke Fletcher held his nerve to earn his side a point.

Memorable Meeting

Two years ago Taunton was the venue for a high-scoring thriller between Notts and Somerset.

A century from Brendan Taylor helped take the Outlaws through to a semi-final clash against Essex at Chelmsford.

The former Zimbabwe captain made a brilliant 154, scoring his runs from 97 balls and hitting 17 fours and five sixes as the Outlaws reached 429 for nine after being asked to bat first.

There were also sizeable contributions from Riki Wessels, who scored 81, Samit Patel (66), Michael Lumb (47) and Steven Mullaney (37).

Lewis Gregory returned figures of four for 60 for the home side.

Dean Elgar made 91 in the brave Somerset chase but wickets fell steadily throughout the innings and the home side were eventually dismissed for 405 in 48 overs.

History

1993 | Nottinghamshire came out second-best in a thrilling Benson and Hedges Cup match against Somerset at Trent Bridge. Notts had posted 279-6 and reduced their opponents to 278-9 in the final over. Debutant Andre van Troost, a tall Dutch fast bowler, hit Chris Cairns away for a boundary off the final ball of the match to seal a one-wicket victory for the Cidermen.

1964 | Maurice Hill played in 20 List A matches for Nottinghamshire, scoring 334 runs, with one century. His 107 against Somerset at Taunton helped his side to an all-out total of 215 in a second round Gillette Cup match and won him the man of the match award. Unfortunately, the home side managed to tie the scores at 215-9 and won by virtue of losing fewer wickets.

1982 | Nottinghamshire were defeated by Somerset in the Benson and Hedges Cup final at Lord’s, their first-ever one-day final. Put in to bat, Notts were bowled out for a disappointing 130, with Clive Rice top scoring on 27 and only four other batsmen reaching double figures. The Cidermen raced to a nine-wicket success, Mike Hendrick getting the only wicket to fall.

Stats (for all List A matches between Notts and Somerset)

Highest Team Total | Notts: 429-9 (Taunton, 2017), Somerset: 405 (Taunton, 2017).

Highest Individual Score | Notts: 154 BRM Taylor (Taunton, 2017), Somerset: 117* IVA Richards (Trent Bridge, 1983).

Best Bowling | Notts: 5-44 EE Hemmings (Bath, 1982), Somerset: 6-16 Abdur Rehman (Taunton, 2012).

Played For Them Both

Dirk Nannes was a member of the Notts Outlaws side that made it through to T20 Finals Day at Southampton in 2010.

The left-arm pace bowler played international cricket for both Australia and the Netherlands and represented Notts in 16 matches in the shortest format, taking 17 wickets at an average of 27 each.

Four years later he appeared in 14 matches for Somerset, bagging 24 wickets at just 15 apiece.

Other players to have played for both Nottinghamshire and Somerset in recent years include Matt Wood, Ben Phillips, Neil Edwards, Simon Francis, Kevin O’Brien and Vernon Philander.

Milestones

Notts captain Steven Mullaney has taken 99 one-day wickets.

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