Notts Outlaws 182/6-178/6 Derbyshire Falcons (T20 Blast North Group) 26.05.23
What more could you ask for? A scorching Friday night, a packed Trent Bridge, a win for Nottinghamshire against their East Midlands rivals, a perfect start to the Vitality Blast campaign for the Outlaws.
It was new overseas signing Shaheen Afridi who had the pleasure of bowling the first ball of the evening, people still taking their white seated pews in the evening sunshine as Derbyshire opened their innings, Luis Reece and Haidar Ali at the crease.
The Pakistani speedster going for five runs in his first seven balls (including a wide), before another of the international contingent, Connor McKerr, opened his Notts debut up against an old club, taking just two balls to dispatch the wicket of Ali for just one run.
South African born McKerr is on loan from Surrey, Notts bowling attack reduced to bare bones in recent days due to injuries to Jake Ball, Luke Fletcher and Olly Stone, Notts also signing Jack Brooks this week on a two week emergency cover, although Brooks was not yet needed, for this one.
Derbyshire soon improved on losing opener Ali to surpass the hundred with ten overs played as Reece (53) and Madsen (61) drew up a partnership of 112 before Mullaney took the scalp of the Falcons number three.
Reece followed two overs later off the bowling of Montgomery with the away side trudging eventually to the 178 mark by their twenty overs, Carter bowling du Plooy for nine, Mullaney taking Dal for seven and Afridi getting his first Notts wicket, that of Donald for 13, before Chappell (11) and McKiernen (16) ended the innings not out with a score that might have been considered slightly short of par.
In response, Notts raced to 58 inside five overs before Alex Hales was caught by Khan off Chappell for 12. Joe Clarke and Colin Munro putting on a further 29 before Clarke finally went for a healthy knock of 68, New Zealander Munro alongside South African born youngster Matt Montgomery helping the home side to close within 31 before Munro was caught Scrimshaw off Khan for 23.
A quick sixteen by Tom Moores helped edge the hosts to within a handful needed before Notts lost three wickets for just two runs in the sixteenth over. Scrimshaw taking Montgomery (51) before bowling Mullaney first ball, then Moores lost his wicket with the scores level, Samit Patel entering the arena to hit his first ball for four and seal the first match victory of the T20 season.
More white ball cricket as Notts are back in action today as they take on Lancashire at Old Trafford before facing Durham at Chester-le-Street on Monday. Next at Trent Bridge, the Outlaws face Yorkshire Vikings on Tuesday night.
*Main image @TrentBridge action from a packed Trent Bridge on Friday night.