Notts' Second XI fell to a nine-wicket defeat against Leicestershire at Grantham, with the visitors powered by an unbeaten 118 from Nick Welch.

The Outlaws’ 197/4 from their 20 overs proved to be some way short as they ran into the powerful hitting of Welch, who guided the Foxes to a comfortable triumph with 2.3 overs to spare.

Ben Slater and Sol Budinger had made the most of being invited to bat first, putting on an opening stand of 69 in 6.3 overs.

After losing Slater for 25, Budinger continued to find the rope, five boundaries and three maximums coming in his 22-ball 45.

Skipper Haseeb Hameed and Joey Evison then took up the free-flowing, run-scoring mantle, both bringing up half-centuries as the hosts eyed 200.

However, the Foxes’ overseas all-rounder Wiann Mulder had other ideas, removing Hameed for 59, a knock including five fours and two sixes, and Liam Patterson-White in consecutive deliveries, both caught and bowled.

Evison (55*) and Calvin Harrison (4*) combined to take ten from the final six balls, the Outlaws posting 197/4.

In reply, Welch wasted little time in launching into his stride, bringing up a 26-ball half-century inside 27 minutes.

He lost Harry Swindells, caught by Matthew Montgomery off the bowling of Harrison for 21, but found an equally free-scoring partner in Mulder, the pair bringing up a 20-ball 50-run stand.

Milestones came and went in double-quick time; Welch’s century taking just 49 deliveries as only Patterson-White (0-25 from 4) stifled the visitors’ pace.

It was left to the Leicestershire opener to hit the winning runs, his eighth four to go with nine maximums, as the Foxes took the points in the North Group encounter.

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