Sol Budinger’s quickfire half-century helped Nottinghamshire’s Second XI to a two-wicket win over Lancashire in a low-scoring contest at Aigburth.
Set 184 to win from 50 overs, Notts reached their target with 13.1 overs to spare, but with batsmen running out as Sam King and Toby Pettman ultimately marshalled the visitors over the line.
Earlier, Fateh Singh’s four-fer was the key contribution as Lancashire were dismissed inside 49 overs, the left-arm spinner seeing off opener Taylor Cornall (29), George Bell (5), Cian Dickinson (2) and Jack Morley (7).
Aside from Owais Shah’s 31-ball 39, the hosts’ innings was somewhat sedate – and after the left-hander’s stay was ended by Liam Patterson-White in the tenth over, accumulation rather than explosiveness was the order of the day.
Off-spinner Matthew Montgomery (1/22) saw off skipper George Lavelle, while Ben Slater gave a heartfelt celebration as he pinned Xander Selby.
It was left to Joey Evison – fresh from a strong showing for the First XI at Durham – to see off Tom Aspinwall and Ed Moulton.
In reply, Slater and Budinger made light work of the opening 14 overs, reaching 117 before Slater departed for 37.
Budinger found the gloves of Lavelle four balls later, his enterprising 76 including ten fours and two lusty leg-side maximums.
It left the visitors well-set, but the departures of Haseeb Hameed, Evison and Liam Patterson-White for single-figure scores brought a little turbulence to the chase.
Montgomery held the middle overs together, making 26 from 50 balls before being stumped off Dickinson – and when Singh departed three overs later, Notts were still 19 adrift with two wickets remaining.
But 2020 Academy Player of the Year King (12) and seamer Pettman (10) held their nerve, Pettman clipping Dickinson for four to seal victory.
View a full scorecard here.