Nottinghamshire’s Academy side put in a strong showing but went down by three wickets at unbeaten Premier League leaders Cuckney.

The Academy won the toss at Langwith Road and, after the early losses of Joey Evison and Lyndon James, Chris Gibson and Jack Blatherwick put on a fifty partnership in 56 balls.

Blatherwick eventually edged Simon Mugava to keeper Gareth Purshouse for 25, but Gibson added other half-century stands with Tom Keast, who hit 37, and then Hassan Chaudry, who made 35.

Gibson fell just two short of a century as he was bowled by James Hawley on 98 with the score on 215, after which the Academy innings fell away, and they were 250 all out as Hawley finished with 5-53.

In reply, Cuckney were in trouble at 57-4 and 78-5, despite opener Purshouse’s 35, before they were rescued by the lower order.

Arosh Janoda chipped in with 49 before Dan Brown and 17-year-old Nick Keast, brother of Nottinghamshire’s wicket-keeper Tom, took control with an unbroken eighth wicket stand of 101.

Brown added 51 and Keast 56, with the latter hit the winning runs courtesy of a four off the third ball of the 49th over, helping Cuckney to finish on 251-7.

Click here for full scorecard.

*************

Buy your tickets for all seven of Notts Outlaws’ NatWest T20 Blast North Group games – played between July 21 and August 18 – here.

*************

It’s jolly convenient to receive latest news, ticket information and behind the scenes exploits direct to your inbox - and rest assured we’ll never pass on your information to others.

Click here to hear from us…