Since last weeks opening match tie with Worcestershire Rapids in the Vitality Blast North Group, Notts lost their second T20 game of the season against Birmingham Bears at Trent Bridge before bouncing back with back-to-back victories on the road and last night it was Alex Hales star of the show as the Outlaws beat Durham to go fourth in the table.

Against Worcestershire, Notts slipped from a winning position to scramble a draw at New Road following a tight spell of bowling which kept their hosts down to scoring 152.

On Friday night in front of a restricted capacity crowd at Trent Bridge, Birmingham Bears scored a whopping 229/5 including thirteen sixes and Notts fell short despite a 51 by Ben Duckett from just 27 balls to register 211 from their twenty overs.

However Sunday was much more impressive as Joe Clarke smashed a record 136 from 65 balls against Northamptonshire Steelbacks to help the Outlaws to 214 and in response, their hosts were restricted to 200 falling 14 runs short thanks to Jake Ball amongst others, taking 3/58.

And buoyed by the monkey off their back to win a first white ball game since lifting the title for a second time last summer, Notts were scintillating in the North East last night in another tight game against Durham at the Riverside.

Alex Hales scoring 96 from 54 balls and Ben Duckett with another half century helping Notts to register 195 whilst in reply, the home side scored 182/8 after a fantastic start for them (at one point 70 without loss) with three wickets for Matt Carter and some restricted bowling from the likes of Luke Fletcher (31/1) and Samit Patel (29/2) helping the win.

Next up for Notts is the auld-enemy Derbyshire Falcons at Trent Bridge on Friday night in front of another restricted but capacity crowd.

*Main image @TrentBridge Alex Hales was in fabulous form against Durham.