Samit Patel says his 62-ball hundred for the Notts Outlaws in their Royal London One-Day Cup victory over Leicestershire Foxes was the ‘perfect’ way to celebrate signing a contract extension that will keep him at Trent Bridge until 2020.
After Riki Wessels (76), Chris Nash (56) and a first List A half century for Tom Moores (76) had got the Outlaws off to a flying start, the right-hander raced to his first three figure score of the 2018 summer in double-quick time, striking 14 fours and two sixes.
In reply to Notts’ List A ground record score of 409-7, the hosts replied with 316-9 as Harry Gurney claimed figures of 4-58.
The Outlaws’ success improves their record to two wins and one defeat going into Friday’s game at Headingley against the Yorkshire Vikings.
“I was pretty happy with that,” said Patel. “The lads up front set us up nicely by going really well, which gave the freedom for those coming in later like me to play their shots – and in my case it came off.
“To get that score after securing my future at the Club where I have played for the last 17 years was perfect.”
“I never really think about getting to a hundred, it’s more of a case of ‘see ball, hit ball’ and if you get a ton, you get a ton. It’s just one of those days where I had a bit of luck go my way.
“It’s great to get a score in this competition for the first time this year. I’ve been scratching about about and trying to find my feet a bit really.
“It was a quicker hundred than normal for me – normally I take a few more balls than that – but the situation needed an injection, and with wickets in hand, it just happened that way.
“To get that score after securing my future at the Club where I have played for the last 17 years was perfect.”
Patel, who also took 2-52 in the match, said he owed his thanks to Assistant Head Coach Paul Franks for the part he played in a seventh career one-day ton.
He added: “I asked Franksy in practice yesterday what I was doing last year that I haven’t been doing this year.
“He said to make sure I hit the ball on the floor, eliminate getting caught in soft areas and then kick on by missing the fielders. He made it pretty simple for me.
“Sometimes in one-day cricket you can search for runs and search for something that is not there, but I felt the score was around the corner because I have been hitting it pretty well in the nets.”
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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.