Alex Hales’ third half-century in as many matches couldn’t fire the Outlaws to victory as Worcestershire Rapids overcame the hosts in a high-scoring affair at Trent Bridge.
The England opener's partnership with Joe Clarke, worth 58 in five overs, put Notts on course to chase the target of 229 set by the visitors.
But frequent wickets put the home side on the back foot and, despite a healthy cameo from Shaheen Shah Afridi, the Outlaws fell 56 runs short.
Despite losing the toss, Brett D’Oliviera set the tone for his side as he drove and clipped the opening deliveries of the match for four, before sweeping Carter for four and six off consecutive deliveries.
He was offered a reprieve on 30 when he chipped to Colin Munro, but for the Kookaburra to loft teasingly over the Kiwi, with compatriot Michael Bracewell driving handsomely down the ground with the next delivery to add salt to the Outlaws’ wounds.
By the end of the powerplay, the visitors had raced to 87 and both openers had found their groove with D’Oliveira on 44 of 20 deliveries, and Bracewell 38 off 17.
The former fell soonafter, pulling Samit Patel to Munro on the square-leg boundary, before the latter reached his half century off 20 deliveries, with a rare scampered single.
Jack Haynes and Adam Hose began the rebuild job after Mitch Santner popped a catch back to Mullaney, accumulating steadily before boundaries for both in a 13th over worth 18 runs.
Haynes found the rope five more times before he fell attempting a further maximum, caught well by Matthew Montgomery on the cover boundary for a 25-ball 42.
Hose continued unperturbed despite Kashif Ali falling to Shaheen Afridi, flicking McKerr for a leg side six and a straight six in the penultimate over to motor through the thirties, then scooping Afridi over the rope, and then over third man to reach his fifty and help the visitors to an imposing first innings total.
In reply, Clarke and Hales matched the bright start of their opponents, totting up 39 off the third and fourth overs combined.
The former fell for a 15-ball 25, though, helping Pennington round the corner to Bracewell having flat batted and deftly scooped for fours in consecutive deliveries.
Hales pressed on, reaching his half century with 21 balls and Notts concluded the powerplay 76/1, but the demise of Munro and Montgomery, both caught, set the Outlaws further off track.
Moores, James and Mullaney followed suit cheaply, before Hales, who hit eight fours and three sixes in his vigil, was caught by Hose on the cover boundary to give D’Oliveira his fourth wicket and reduce the home side to 126/7.
Afridi sparked life back into proceedings with four sixes off the 16th over, bowled by Bracewell, but his departure for an 11-ball 29 spelled the end for Outlaws as Patel then Carter were dismissed with 10 balls left.