Notts Outlaws will go into Friday's NatWest T20 Blast fixture against the Birmingham Bears with their tails up after a comprehensive victory against Derbyshire last time out.

However, Outlaws captain James Taylor has seen his side fall behind the pace at home in recent weeks, and is keen to get back on track under the Trent Bridge floodlights.

“We haven’t been at our best so far in the Blast,” he said. 

“Alex Hales was exceptional on Friday night, he really showed his class and was a matchwinner for us.

“We’ve seen good individual performance, but now every player in our side needs to group together and make good batting, bowling and excellent fielding click.

“Then we’ll really see what we can do.” 

The Outlaws currently occupy 6th place in the NatWest T20 Blast North Group, with Birmingham Bears two places and one point above them. 

In their last outing, the Outlaws turned over Derbyshire at the County Ground, and in the newly-named Birmingham Bears, they will be tested by a slightly unknown quantity in T20 cricket on Friday night.

Normally separated from the Outlaws in the group stages of the domestic T20, the sides have been brought together in the Blast this year.

“They, like every team, have some very talented individuals. We’ll be looking to replicate the good work we’ve put in,” said Taylor.

“Unfamiliarity shouldn’t be something to worry about. We play them regularly in the County Championship, and know the individual performers well. 

“They’ve got a good balance of young players making their name in the game with those ‘names’ we’re aware of.”

The Outlaws’ hit and miss campaign has brought the side two wins and two losses, and the side will return to Trent Bridge looking to right the wrongs of their previous results at their home ground.

“At the start of the tournament we identified the home quarter-final as our target, and that hasn’t changed,” said Taylor. 

“We’ll focus on each game each week, and prepare accordingly.

“I’m glad we’re coming back to Trent Bridge, we have amazing crowds and after the last couple of weeks, it feels like we owe them a result.

“Having backing like that spurs us on, and I can’t urge the people of Nottingham enough to come down and help us get up the table.”

Notts Outlaws side to face Birmingham Bears: Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, James Taylor, Samit Patel, Riki Wessels, Chris Read, Steven Mullaney, Sam Wood, Ajmal Shahzad, Andy Carter, Harry Gurney


Notts Outlaws NatWest T20 Blast fixture and ticket information:

v Birmingham Bears – Friday 13 June 6pm BUY TICKETS
v Derbyshire Falcons – Friday 20 June 6pm BUY TICKETS
v Yorkshire Vikings – Saturday 28 June 2.30pm BUY TICKETS
v Leicestershire Foxes – Sunday 20 July 2.30pm BUY TICKETS

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