Tom Moores feels the manner of Notts Outlaws’ enthralling win over Leicestershire Foxes could stand the side in good stead as they hunt down a quarter-final spot.
Moores hit 42 from 30 balls to take Notts to within touching distance of the finish line, before a nerveless cameo from last man Farhan Ahmed saw the hosts triumph by one wicket from the penultimate ball of the game.
The wicketkeeper-batter – who has scored the seventh-most runs of any player in this year’s Blast, behind only Joe Clarke for Notts – feels the Outlaws can also take heart from previous title-winning campaigns.
“A win like this just keeps the belief going that the competition is still alive,” he told Trent Bridge Live.
“I’ve played in a couple of those title-winning teams, and they weren’t always plain sailing, we weren’t always dominating everyone.
“This year has been up and down in the T20, and the lads have had to deal with that well, but we’re trying to keep our belief, and take confidence into the next game.
“Going through a group stage like this – if do we qualify – can be the best thing to happen when you get to the knockout stages.”
Moores forged a powerful alliance with Daniel Sams for the fifth wicket, adding 54 runs alongside the Australian all-rounder.
The pair’s approach to chasing 188 was straightforward.
“I didn’t have to say much to him when he came out,” said Moores.
“We’ve all seen around the world what he can do and the way he strikes the ball.
“He took all the pressure off me with the way he played, and we just said ‘keep going, keep watching the ball and keep trying to hit it out of the middle’.
“When he got out, I just tried to carry that on.”
The Outlaws’ innings was given early impetus by Clarke, who hit a fourth T20 fifty of the summer.
“Clarkey is such a phenomenal player, and to have that in our locker just sets the tone,” said Moores.
“We’ve got that much power down the order that we never though we couldn’t get the runs.
“We always go back to that first game here this year, the record chase [as Notts beat Bears]. The belief in the dressing room is that we’ve got more than enough firepower in the tank to do it, and thankfully we did today.
“We’re so lucky to play cricket here too, and to have this supporter base. At the end of the game the way the crowd were going wild, just gave us something to feed off.”
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The Outlaws' quest for a quarter-final spot continues against Durham on Friday 11 July (6.30pm), with The Blaze facing Surrey from 2.30pm.
