Notts return to Trent Bridge tomorrow for a crunch Metro Bank One Day Cup clash with table-toppers Gloucestershire, following a run of back-to-back victories that all-rounder Joe Pocklington believes have been crucial. 

The Outlaws followed Sunday’s win over Glamorgan with a four-wicket success against Hampshire in Southampton, with Haseeb Hameed, Jack Haynes and Lyndon James among those to play key roles with the bat. 

It was Pocklington, however, who delivered in spades with the ball, a career-best 3-28 central to the win.

“Absolutely delighted. We probably know that we needed to win our last three coming in so to get this one ticked off. It’s a great feeling," he reflected after the game. 

“The boys batted really well, Hass (Hasseb Hameed), Haynesy (Jack Haynes) and even Lyndon at the end.

“It was a really good team performance I thought, so we’ll be going into Trent Bridge really excited to try and win and get through to the final stages.”

Pocklington was also quick to stress the importance of the Glamorgan victory earlier in the year week for the Outlaws’ campaign as a whole. 

“Sunday was very important, it was a great win as well," he said.

"We needed a response like that after the loss at Leicester, so to win like that to get the tournament back on track and make sure we had something to play for in the final three games gave us confidence.”

Not only did he take three crucial wickets in Southampton, Pocklington's economical bowling proved decisive in halting Hampshire’s progress through the middle overs.

“I guess it was sort of the role I had, coming on they were only one down with two set batters, so it was really just a case of trying to squeeze and hope that bought us a wicket or two, which it did," he reflected. 

“I thought Fred (Freddie McCann) bowled really well at the other end, controlling the rate and that’s what bought us a wicket as well.

“Hopefully that will be a theme of us trying to carry that on going forward if we haven’t taken early poles.”

Pocklington is part of a 14-man squad as Notts prepare to host the group leaders. 

Tomorrow’s opponents have a perfect record of five wins from five, but Pocklington views the challenge positively - and is eager to experience playing at Trent Bridge for the first time. 

“Yeah I can’t wait. I’ve never played at Trent Bridge as our first two games were at Welbeck, which was great fun playing in front of a home crowd," he said. 

“So hopefully to get a few more in and get a good atmosphere on Friday and Sunday will be really cool.”