Riki Wessels believes batting in tandem with Notts Outlaws opening partner Alex Hales has brought the best out of him during this summer’s NatWest T20 Blast competition.
The 31-year-old right hander is the Club’s leading run scorer in the 2017 tournament, with 492 from 14 matches so far, at an average of 44.72 and with a strike rate of touching 150.
He cracked the Outlaws’ first ever T20 century in scoring 110 in the home match with Derbyshire, meaning only Joe Denly (Kent), Adam Lyth (Yorkshire), Wayne Madsen (Derbyshire) and Chris Nash (Sussex) have, to date, scored more runs in the game’s shortest format.
“It’s been phenomenal playing with Alex and watching some of his hitting.”
Former Northamptonshire player Wessels started the campaign in the middle order, but, following the unexpected retirement of Michael Lumb was moved up the order.
It has proven to be perfect move for both himself and Hales (485 runs), who have flourished in each other’s company.
“Alex going off up front with me has really helped me click into my game,” said Wessels. “Having the chance to play in partnership like that has really got me going.
“It’s been phenomenal playing with Alex and watching some of his hitting. White ball cricket is something I really enjoy playing in too.
“To have the freedom with the batting depth we’ve had this year has really helped I think. We have so many batters in the side who can get the job done and to be going in ahead of that is a great place to be.”
Wessels recognises the value the destructive Hales brings to the team, with his strike rate of 206.4 the fastest rate of any batsman to record 10-plus runs this season.
The Hillingdon-born England player has also hit more boundaries (95) than anybody else in this campaign ( 77 fours and 18 sixes).
“To have him (Alex Hales) back for the whole of a campaign has been a massive boost.”
Wessels, who weighed in with important scores of 69 and 116 in this week’s County Championship victory over Northamptonshire at Trent Bridge added: “It’s been a miss in other seasons when Alex hasn’t been available because he’s such a world-class player in this format.
“To have him back for the whole of a campaign has been a massive boost and really helped me and the team.
“If he can fire on Finals Day with the strike rate he has, then it is really going to help our cause and we’d love to go on and win it.”
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