A defiant knock of 46 in 54 balls from Tom Keast proved to be in vain as Notts lost their Second XI Trophy clash against Leicestershire at Lutterworth by five wickets.

Batting at number eight, the wicketkeeper-batsman helped lead something of a recovery from 110-6 along with Connor Marshall (25) by hitting four boundaries and two sixes as the visitors edged up to 193 all out.

However, Leicestershire, boosted Laurie Hill’s 65 not out, were able to get home with 10 overs to spare.

It was the hosts who won the toss and decided to field first and they capitalised quickly as Lyndon James was run out for 1 backing-up at the non-strikers end, by bowler Tommy Taylor, in the fourth over.

Two more quick wickets fell in successive overs as first Captain Jake Libby was out for 7, caught by keeper Harry Swindells off the bowling of Richard Jones (3-27), before Solomon Budinger (22) was held at mid-off by Ben Mike off Taylor’s bowling, making the score 39-3.

Kamau Leverock joined Chris Gibson but the latter was soon bowled by Jones and replacement Matt Carter went for 9, offering a catch at long-on that was taken by Dieter Klein to give Ateeq Javid a wicket.

Marshall joined Leverock (44), who was caught at mid-wicket by Harry Dearden from a James Dickinson delivery soon after the pair had posted the team hundred.

Keast added 43 for the seventh wicket with Marshall who was next out, as he skied a ball from Taylor to be pouched by Lewis Hill at mid-wicket.

Matt Milnes (3) was caught at cover by Dickinson as Jones struck for a third time and soon after Jack Blatherwick (2) was pinned lbw by Dickinson.

Keast carried on playing his shots but fell just short of a half century as he was caught at deep mid-off by Javid, the bowler Aadil Ali, to leave Ben Kitt unbeaten on 4.

Notts got off to a good start in the field as Milnes trapped Harry Swindells lbw for a duck in the first over.

However, Mark Pettini (31) and Ali (29) put on 63 for the second wicket before the former edged Ben Kitt to keeper Keast.

When Carter had Ali caught behind, and the same combination accounted for Javid (5) to leave Leicestershire on 86-4, the visitors’ hopes were raised.

But Captain Hill and Harry Dearden (23) dashed those with a stand of 59 from just over 12 overs.

Connor Marshall eventually caught and bowled Dearden, but Hill stood firm along with Taylor (26 not out) to secure victory without further loss.

Notts now prepare for a three-day match against the same opposition, starting tomorrow.

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Entry is just £1 to all for the Notts Outlaws v Warwickshire Royal London One-Day Cup match and Family Fun Day at Trent Bridge this Sunday (27 May), starting at 11am. Secure your tickets here.