With Yorkshire players falling all over what was presumably a very slippery outfield, Nottinghamshire showed the late-bloomers why they’re topping the North Group table at the moment.
An unexpected 58 from Samit Patel and 31* from Chris Read was the turning point for the host side, who looked to be on the back foot for most of their innings but got over the line with a well-struck four by Read off the fourth delivery of the final over.
Liam Plunkett did his best in said final over to defend the three runs required by Notts, the first three balls were all dots and he had Patel caught by Alex Lees for 58, but he could not prevent Read striking a four to bring up the win for the Outlaws.
It was much the same when the hosts were fielding: the visiting Vikings seemed to be pummelling the Outlaws’ bowlers – Dan Christian’s first over went for 19, as Adam Lyth sent him for a six and then three consecutive fours – but as the innings progressed, Notts pulled their control back into line and wickets started to fall.
Overseas pairing Kane Williamson and Travis Head shared a 67 run partnership and looked to be taking the game away from Nottinghamshire; that was after Lyth had opened Yorkshire’s account with a brilliant 39 from 21.
Harry Gurney was the strike-man for Notts as he finished with 3-16 having removed Lees in the first over, and Head and Bresnan at crucial moments later in the match. Patel managed to star with the ball as well as the bat, as he got big-hitter Head out for 40 just as he was starting to settle into his new role in the Yorkshire ranks.
The Outlaws were looking dodgy in the middle overs, as they were running around 20 runs behind Yorkshire and at least three wickets; it should have been Yorkshire’s to lose at this point. But with Patel at the crease, you never can tell what the outcome will to be and tonight, he took it away from the Vikings with ease.
Some slippery outfields – Williamson appeared to slip over before he even moved to defend the boundary at one point – punished Yorkshire, but the bowling left something to be desired as well. Bresnan conceded 34 runs for no wicket and Patterson finished with the best figures and even they were only 2-30.
Man of the Match
This week it has to go to Samit Patel. Chris Read came out and scored the winning runs but without Patel’s 58 as a springboard, he never would have been able to play in the manner that he did. Patel struck his 58 from 47 deliveries and featured two fours and two sixes; he also took the wicket of Travis Head in the Yorkshire innings.
