Notts Outlaws' shot at a second successive Vitality Blast victory to begin their campaign fell short at Trent Bridge after only 18 overs were possible against Northamptonshire Steelbacks before heavy rain curtailed the contest.

The visitors had stuck the Outlaws into bat, and appeared vindicated in their decision to do so when they had Joe Clarke dismissed for three in the second over on what looked a sticky pitch, the right-hander miscuing a pull to Rob Keogh off Matt Kelly. 

Alex Hales flicked sixes over deep backward square &  extra cover to kickstart Notts’ innings, before he, too, was caught behind pushing at Ben Sanderson, and Ben Duckett top edged to third man for seven in the fifth over. 

At the end of powerplay, Notts sat perilously on 38/3, in need of a rebuild.

They found it in the form of Tom Moores and Patel who struck the ball cleanly and rotated the strike to shift the momentum. 

Moores slog swept Graeme White’s second ball - the first over after the powerplay -  for six, before squeezing two square drives to the PKF Smith Cooper boundary off the spin of Freddie Heldreich to add impetus.

Patel then picked a full Matt Kelly delivery off his legs for a four to deep backwards square in the ninth over and followed it up with a pulled six into the Fox Road Stand.

Moores fell in the 10th over, however, off Heldreich’s bowling, caught by Saif Zaib at deep mid-wicket to leave Notts 75/4 at the halfway stage. 

Patel continued his rampage; a sizable slog sweep off White over the Larwood and Voce stand in the 13th over taking him to 6,000 runs in T20 cricket. 

And he brought up his 26th fifty for the Outlaws with the third of four consecutive boundaries in the 15th over, Tom Taylor repeatedly carved through, over and around the backward point region to the delight of the partisan support. 

He was offered solid support by Steven Mullaney who picked off singles into the Trent Bridge outfield, and the pair brought up their 50 partnership in the 16th over off 34 deliveries. 

Both would fall before time before the deluge; Patel planted Kelly’s full toss down Zaib’s throat, and Mullaney was caught behind off the Australian, leaving time for one Dan Christian swept six before the rain arrived. 

The Outlaws are straight back into action in the Vitality Blast tomorrow (Tuesday 31 May) night, with Lancashire Lightning the visitors.

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Be More Outlaw: The 2022 Vitality Blast at Trent Bridge

Tuesday 31 May, Notts Outlaws vs Lancashire Lightning: Secure your seats…

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Thursday 23 June, Notts Outlaws vs Derbyshire Falcons: Secure your seats…

Friday 1 July, Notts Outlaws vs Durham: Secure your seats…