Samit Patel is determined to continue the fine run of form he and the team have gathered on the road when they return to home comforts against Kent Spitfires on Monday.

The Outlaws have won all of ten of their last completed matches after three weeks on the road, securing a quarter-final place in the Royal London One-Day Cup in the process.

However, Patel is keen to maintain the momentum, including his own form after striking 124* against Essex, when the side face the Spitfires and Hampshire at Trent Bridge in the space of three days.

“There have been some standout performances over the past few weeks and it has been a time in the season where the batsman have taken responsibility,” he said.

“Whether it be Alex Hales at Welbeck, James Taylor, Chris Read or Brett Hutton at Liverpool or myself at Essex, everyone is chipping in and contributing to the winning run.

“I wouldn’t have thought we could win ten on the bounce as there is always likely to be a mishap here and there but we have played consistent cricket.

“Everyone knows their role in the side and we are beginning to get to the standard we want to be at.”

The strength of the Outlaws batting has always been one to fear, with Chris Read slotting in at number eight throughout the 50-over campaign and Patel believes that gives him and the rest of the top order chance to play their natural game and dominate the opposition from the first ball.

“When you have someone of the calibre of Ready coming in at eight it allows you to go hard at the top and adapt to situations as they come up,” he said.

“I always try and stay positive at the top and we are encouraged by the coaching staff to play assertive cricket.

“You can’t always do that on one pitch to the next but against Essex it all clicked for me and everything was coming out of the middle of the bat.

“As a team we are pretty well balanced to compete in this competition and the batting unit are going well at the moment.

“The bowlers are backing that up with Jake Ball and Harry Gurney having been outstanding up front and Imran Tahir a great asset to call upon.

“Not qualifying for the knockout stages of the NatWest T20 Blast with the side we have has really hurt us and we are determined to make amends in the 50 over format."

Nottinghamshire Director of Cricket Mick Newell has named a 12-man squad for the visit of Kent Spitfires on Monday, with Dan Christian returning in place of Imran Tahir who is away on international duty. Michael Lumb is unavailable for the game due a thumb injury.

Notts Outlaws squad to face Kent Spitfires (from): Jake Ball, Dan Christian, Luke Fletcher, Harry Gurney, Alex Hales, Brett Hutton, Steven Mullaney, Samit Patel, Chris Read, Brendan Taylor, James Taylor and Riki Wessels. 

 

Royal London One-Day Cup at Trent Bridge: Fixtures & Ticket Information

v Kent Spitfires – Monday 17 August 2pm BUY TICKETS
v Hampshire – Wednesday 19 August 2pm BUY TICKETS

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