Outlaws beat Sharks and book their finals day place - 27/7/2010

Ryan Sidebottom and co hit back to KO Sussex

NOTTS Outlaws have certainly lived up to their advertising slogan vow of Putting Some Colour in their Cricket – by making the rest of the counties green with envy.

The short film that beams out on the big screen before Trent Bridge matches sees Samit Patel smashing paint balls to all parts in a quest for glory.

And now the Outlaws have earned themselves their own dream scenario – a place at T20 Finals Day on August 14 at the Rose Bowl.

Only three other counties have a shot at beating them to the coveted title, as they seek a first one-day trophy since 1991.

But David Husseys men certainly did it the hard way after largely struggling with the bat – and early on with ball in hand.

However, crucially, they never gave up hope and the likes of Steven Mullaney, Samit Patel and Graeme White – the unsung heroes of the team – gradually clawed things back in Notts favour.

And Darren Pattinson (3-17) then returned to snare the pivotal wicket of Murray Goodwin (28), after he had twice been put down, to leave the majority of a partisan home crowd of 8,558 jumping in the stands.

It was a fitting way for Notts to bid farewell to Trent Bridge en route to Southampton, having previously lost there only once in eight T20 group games.

In the end, a winning margin of 13 runs was relatively emphatic in such a low-scoring game.

But for three-quarters of the match it looked as if last years beaten finalists were likely to come out on top.

It was the Sharks who won the toss and chose to field and it looked to be a decision well justified when Notts slumped from 52-1 in the sixth over to 98-6 by the 15th.

The Outlaws began well as Ali Brown plundered three of his first five balls to the offside boundary.

However, Alex Hales (9) was first out when he was comprehensively bowled by a nip-backer from Yasir Arafat to make it 21-1.

But Brown (31 from 16 balls, four fours, two sixes) ensured the Outlaws kept up their early momentum with two consecutive pick-up legside maximums.

Just as he was getting in his stride, and with the score on 52, he went for one big hit too many as Keegan exacted his revenge and bowled him.

Notts were in difficulty when, just three runs later, Patel played on attempting to cut spinner Yardy (2-22 off four overs).

When skipper Hussey (16) tired to up the ante, he holed out at mid-wicket, caught by Will Beer off the bowling of part-time spinner Chris Nash.

And Notts were back in trouble at 92-5 when Steven Mullaney (1) played inside a full ball from Yardy.

And their problems only intensified when Murray Goodwins accurate throw saw the steady Matt Wood (36 from 37 balls, three fours) run out.

Chris Read (20 off 17) did his best to give Notts a late thrust, but he was another to perish in the deep.

Ryan Sidebottom did get them past 140 with two late boundaries – and that was to prove important in helping the hosts to a competitive total.

In reply, Nash had an early let-off on two when he was put down by the diving Sidebottom at short fine leg off Dirk Nannes.

But Notts gave themselves hope with some much-needed wickets that slowed the Sussex run rate.

Darren Pattinson made the initial breakthrough as Luke Wright (18) skied a catch to Sidebottom.

Patel and White then won lbw shouts against Nash (22) and Ed Joyce respectively, while Michael Yardy ran himself out.

Andrew Hodd and Goodwin threatened to propel Sussex home but both fell in successive overs.

Hodd (17 off 13) was brilliantly held by Hussey off Sidebottom while Hales, running round at mid-wicket, kept his nerve to hold Goodwin from Pattinsons bowling.

From there it was plain sailing for Notts as Sussex had neither the firepower nor the stomach to hit back.

What looked to be a grey day for the Outlaws had turned into a golden one.