Notts Outlaws 168/6-164/9 Worcestershire Rapids (T20 Blast North Group) 27.05.22

An assured batting performance by the Notts Outlaws helped them to a fine four-wicket victory over the Worcestershire Rapids with two balls to spare, in their opening twenty20 Vitality Blast game of the season.

Put into bat, Ed Pollock struck four, six, and six off consecutive balls before Luke Fletcher had him caught off the next. From 39-2, New Zealander Colin Munro carved out a fine fifty off 33 balls, as the Rapids passed the 100 mark in the 12th over. He was dismissed by Fletcher for 66 off 43 balls, containing seven fours and two sixes.

The quick bowler took another wicket four balls later, before picking up two more in the final over to finish with career-best figures of 5 for 32 as Worcestershire ended their 20 overs on 164-9. Jake Ball and Dan Christian captured two wickets apiece.

Notts lost Alex Hales after only seven balls, but a half-century stand between Joe Clarke and Ben Duckett (29 off 14, 3 fours & 2 sixes), saw Notts reach 66 in only the sixth over. They smashed 44 runs in three overs together before the run-rate slowed a little. Clarke went for 52 off 34 balls (6 fours & 2 sixes), with the score on 116. Wicket-keeper Tom Moores and captain Dan Christian (23 not out), then added another 43 as the Outlaws neared the target.

Moores (47 off 31, with two fours & three sixes), was caught with six needed off 11 balls, and it was left to Calvin Harrison to belt a four off Charlie Morris to give the home side victory with two balls to spare.

In other matches in the North Group, the Birmingham Bears have started well with two straight wins whilst Yorkshire have won one, and tied one game with Lancashire. Worcestershire have lost both their opening two games. The Notts Outlaws now entertain Northamptonshire, who have won one and lost one, in two days’ time.

In a warm-up game before the main twenty20 competition, the second eleven lost a game to their Derbyshire counterparts. Dan Christian made an unbeaten 30 off 24 balls, as Notts totalled just 134. The opponents reached their target easily in the 16th over, with Harry Came hitting a fifty.

*Article provided by Hitesh Darji (Cricket Correspondent)

*Main image @TrentBridge the Notts players celebrate on a good night for the Outlaws.