Leicestershire Foxes 123-127/5 Notts Outlaws (T20 Blast North Group) 10.06.22

Going into the match in a precarious seventh place and eight points behind leaders Lancashire in the North Group of the Vitality Blast twenty20 competition, the Notts Outlaws bounced back with a resounding five wicket victory over Leicestershire Foxes at Grace Road.

The home side won the toss and batted first, and Luke Fletcher had two batsmen caught behind in the first over. The runs came slowly against tight bowling and the total reached just 59 for four after ten overs. Wiaan Mulder, with 32 off 26 balls, and Rishi Patel (28), boosted the middle order but with Dane Paterson bowling the last two batsmen in the final over with consecutive deliveries, the Foxes folded for 123 all out after 18.4 overs.

The county’s bowlers did a stellar job with Fletcher (2 for 20), and Paterson (2-12 in 2.4 overs), the pick of the bowlers, and Calvin Harrison also captured two scalps.

Notts had no problems chasing the target with Joe Clarke (22 off 13 balls, three fours and one six), crashing 66 for the first wicket with Alex Hales in 4.4 overs. Hales was dismissed a run later, but not after blasting another quick-fire 44 off only 16 balls. He slammed 24 (44646) off a Ben Mike over, as the 50 total arrived in 18 balls, and he ended his knock with six fours and three sixes.

Ben Duckett then came in and stroked an unbeaten 44 off 23 balls, with eight fours, as the hundred came up in the ninth over, and the winning line after only 13.2 overs.

The victory pushes the Outlaws one place back up the table with seven points from seven games. They have a game in hand though over the five teams above them in the group.

There is now a one-week break before the next twenty20 fixture, with the Outlaws coming back home to Trent Bridge to face the Birmingham Bears next Friday.

The Second Eleven team had faced the same opposition at Arundel Castle in the semi-final of their t20 competition. Chasing a target of 175 to win, the county fell 14 runs short after both Sol Budinger and Dane Schadendorf fell cheaply. The opening pair for Leicestershire, Nick Welch, with 40, and Harry Swindells (62), put on 89 for the first wicket, to help set a challenging total.

Meanwhile, the first day of the second test match at Trent Bridge saw New Zealand make 318 for four after being put into bat by England. From 84-0 they slumped to 169-4 with James Anderson and Ben Stokes taking two wickets apiece. However, Daryl Mitchell (81), and Tom Blundell (67), saw the Kiwis to safety with an unbeaten partnership of 149 so far for the fifth wicket.

*Article provided by Hitesh Darji (Cricket Correspondent)

*Main image @TrentBridge Ben Duckett impressed with a quick fire 44.