Steven Mullaney heaped praise upon the evergreen Alex Hales but maintained his Outlaws team need to find form with haste following a mixed start to the Vitality Blast, as two more matches await in the space of two days.

The Outlaws travel to Edgbaston on Saturday 3 June (6.30pm), before facing Lancashire Lightning at Trent Bridge on Sunday 4 June (3pm, after The Blaze face Sunrisers at 11am).

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“We are obviously disappointed with the result against Worcestershire,” Mullaney said.

“We have lost three and won two now, but you can turn around in a weekend. It isn’t all doom and gloom. 

“We have got to address certain areas and get things on track quickly, which we can.

“There are positives from those games. Alex Hales is a world-class player and we are very lucky to have him. Hopefully this run of form continues. 

“We need to support him, and other lads need to chip in because he can’t win it on his own.”

Mullaney did, though, play his part in restricting the Rapids after a fast start in the powerplay. 

The medium-pacer claimed figures of 2-27 from his four overs, as the visitors racked up an imposing score at Trent Bridge.

He admitted he is enjoying the challenges of captaincy alongside his role with bat and ball. 

“I feel like the ball is coming out nicely,” he said.

“I had to chop and change quickly on Friday because the run rate was high but I just tried to stick to my strengths and go to a wide plan and it is coming out well, but I’d trade that all in for a win. 

“I love the captaincy. It is tough at the minute, but I do love it,” he continued. 

“You’re never going to get all the decisions right but you hope you get more right than not.”

The Outlaws now travel to Birmingham Bears before hosting Lancashire Lightning in a double header alongside The Blaze. 

Notts have named an unchanged squad for the fixture.

Despite the fixtures taking the hosts to the halfway point in the group stages, Mullaney maintains he’ll keep a calm head as his side seeks to get their campaign back on track.

“It is a professional sport, there is always pressure but there isn’t any more than usual,” he stated.

“Hampshire got off to a similar start last year and won the tournament so we’ve got to believe.

“We know we can turn it round, the important part of the competition is the back end and you hope you can build some momentum into that. We do have to turn it round quickly, though, and get some wins.”

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