In three days’ time, Notts Outlaws will take their place at their third T20 Finals Day in four years.
As the green and golds make their final preparations, trentbridge.co.uk takes a look back at Charlie Shreck’s crucial three-wicket burst on their first appearance in the white-ball showpiece.
Finals Day may have become established at Edgbaston in recent years, but the event was much more nomadic in its earliest guise.
In 2006, Notts had the benefit of hometown support as they embarked upon a semi-final against Surrey – but their all-star opponents were heavily favoured to lift their second T20 title.
The London-based outfit had been in imposing form throughout the competition, breaking the 200 barrier on three occasions to reach the semi-finals at a canter.
And while the Outlaws had amassed a respectable 176-6 from their 20 overs, Surrey’s batting powerhouses would have felt that a place in the final was within their grasp.
Step forward Notts’ Cornish paceman, Charlie Shreck, to dismantle the visitors’ top order.
Ally Brown, who would end his career fruitfully at Trent Bridge, was lured into a miscued shot towards long on – 6/1.
James Benning, who had hit over 300 runs as Surrey bullied their way to Finals Day, was deceived by a swinging delivery that arrowed towards the stumps – 6/2.
Rikki Clarke, then an England international whose big-game experience was a potent weapon in Surrey’s armoury, lost his cool and completely missed a straight ball which clipped middle stump – 16/4.
Shreck was aided and abetted by miserly bowling from Ryan Sidebottom and quick thinking in the field from Will Smith and Mark Ealham, but the amount of runs saved by Shreck’s explosive opening spell was incalculable.
Surrey were dismissed 37 runs short of their target, and while Notts would fall at the final hurdle in controversial circumstances against Leicestershire, they had proved themselves more than worthy of a place at white-ball cricket’s top table.
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