Notts Outlaws completed a hat-trick of victories in the Barbados T20 Cup by defeating Northamptonshire Steelbacks by 7 wickets at the 3Ws Oval.

Winners in 2013 and 2014, the Outlaws continued their winning streak on the island by chasing down a victory target of 123 with 20 balls to spare.

In a repeat of last year’s final, the Steelbacks made 122 for nine after electing to bat first, with the top score being Josh Cobb’s 22.

Greg Smith, Steven Mullaney and Samit Patel all fell in the run chase, leaving Riki Wessels and Sam Wood to see the Outlaws home with an unbroken stand of 61.

Wessels, captaining the side, made an unbeaten 56 not out, whilst Wood’s undefeated 30 was his third not out score of the tournament.

A pulled six and a four over extra cover, from the bowling of David Willey, had got Wessels’ innings off to a spectacular start and he remained there until the end to guide his side over the finishing line, appropriately winning the match with a straight 6 off Maurice Chambers.

Earlier, Luke Fletcher struck a massive dagger through Northants’ chances by yorking the dangerous Willey at the start of the second over.

Willey, who’d made scores of 48 and 77 to help get his side to the final, had already hit Will Gidman for 6 in the first over but could do nothing with Fletcher’s opening delivery, bar turn and look back at his wrecked stumps.

Northants managed to find 44 in the opening six overs of seam but then were pegged back as Notts took pace off the ball. Wakeley was stumped off Samit Patel and Newton had his off peg flattened by Steven Mullaney’s first ball.

The same bowler, who had been man of the match in the two previous matches continued his hot streak by claiming the best figures again (two for 15)

Mullaney bowled Cobb, before deflecting a shot onto the stumps to run out Rob Keogh off his own bowling.

Further wickets for Patel (two for 23), Fletcher (two for 28), Ball (one for 27) and Gidman (one for 28) undid any hopes of Northants bolstering their score significantly.

Notts used the same eleven players throughout all three matches in the tournament: Riki Wessels (captain), Greg Smith, Steven Mullaney, Samit Patel, Sam Wood, Chris Read, Will Gidman, Brett Hutton, Adam Tillcock, Luke Fletcher and Jake Ball.

 

The excitement of the NatWest T20 Blast returns to Trent Bridge in May as Notts Outlaws hope to break the 10,000 barrier for the arrival of reigning champions Birmingham Bears on Friday 15 May.

Adult tickets are available at a special price of £10 and further discounts in place for under 16s (£5), under21s (£7) and senior citizens (£7) when buying in advance. Make Trent Bridge a firm fixture for your Friday nights and secure your seats now.