Ben Duckett hit an unbeaten 44 as Notts Outlaws backed up a strong bowling performance to comfortably beat Leicestershire Foxes and record their third Vitality Blast win this season.

Responding to the hosts’ 123 all out, which saw every member of the bowling attack pick up at least one wicket, the Outlaws raced to three figures as Hales and Joe Clarke posted an opening stand of 66.

Duckett then took up the mantle as the Outlaws secured victory inside 14 overs at the Uptonsteel County Ground, with Samit Patel also chipping in with a contribution.

Foxes captain Colin Ackermann won the toss and opted to bat, but it took Luke Fletcher only five balls to instil doubt as to whether that was the right call as he removed Lewis Hill and Arron Lilley in the first over.

Both were caught behind by Tom Moores to leave the hosts reeling early on at 6/2, before Matt Carter tempted Ackermann into advancing down the track to hand Moores, on his 100th T20 appearance, a simple stumping.

That restricted Leics to 31/3 at the end of the powerplay, and Dan Christian then inflicted further damage in the eighth as Scott Steel holed out to Duckett on the leg side, to put the hosts at 59/4 at halfway.

Three wicketless overs enabled Rishi Patel and Wiaan Mulder to release some of the visitors’ pressure, but their respite did not last long as Calvin Harrison saw the latter sky one to Alex Hales for 32 in the 14th over.

Patel and Ben Mike managed to guide the hosts beyond three figures, but once more, the Outlaws turned the screw as Harrison pinned Mike lbw, following which Clarke ran out Rehan Ahmed before he could face a ball.

That left the hosts 108/7 in the 17th over, and Samit Patel inflicted more misery as he bowled his namesake Rishi for 28, prior to Dane Paterson picking up the final two wickets in two balls to wrap up the innings for 123.

Clarke began the chase in emphatic fashion, striking three fours inside Naveen ul-Haq’s first five balls, and Alex Hales did likewise with a four and a six of his own to put the Outlaws at 28/0 after just two overs.

The onslaught only intensified over the remainder of the powerplay, as Hales showed flashes of his hammering of Derbyshire a week ago as he struck 25 off Mike’s third over to move to 38 off just 11 balls.

There were two colossal maximums amongst five consecutive boundaries in Mike’s first over as the opener freed his shoulders to demonstrate his full power to the Leicester crowd.

Both openers did fall to Naveen, Clarke for 22 and Hales for 44, but the platform had already been comfortably laid and Duckett took up the task alongside Patel to bring up three figures at the end of the ninth.

Callum Parkinson removed both Patel and Steven Mullaney, but the steadying presence throughout was Duckett, and he swept Ahmed for one four before striking a straight boundary immediately afterwards.

Fittingly, Duckett was the man to secure victory as he struck a one-bounce four to finish unbeaten on 23*, with the Outlaws coasting home to secure their second East Midlands derby victory of the Vitality Blast campaign.

*******

Be More Outlaw: The 2022 Vitality Blast at Trent Bridge

Friday 17 June, Notts Outlaws vs Birmingham Bears: Secure your seats…

Tuesday 21 June, Notts Outlaws vs Leicestershire Foxes: Secure your seats…

Thursday 23 June, Notts Outlaws vs Derbyshire Falcons: Secure your seats…

Friday 1 July, Notts Outlaws vs Durham: Secure your seats…