Paul Franks knows his Notts Outlaws side face a crucial week in the battle for Metro Bank One Day Cup knockout qualification, as they return to action against Northants Steelbacks at Chesterfield.

Notts currently sit in the final qualification place in Group A, four points behind Leicestershire and Surrey, but having played a game fewer.

Meanwhile, just four points separate the Outlaws from eighth-placed Northants.

“We’ve got three games in five days to take us towards that qualification stage, but we look forward to it,” he said.

“The group is very much still wide open, so we’re going to need to scrub up and go again, but we look forward to Friday’s game.”

While Notts fell to a narrow defeat against Kent in their most recent outing, Franks felt some of the younger players in his side acquitted themselves well.

With the bat, he reserved praise for Ben Martindale, who scored his maiden List A century.

“I’m delighted for him,” he said.

“He’s played quite a lot in this format now, and he’s developed his game over time.

“He’s been in great form for the Second XI all year, and he’s been waiting for an opportunity to go on and make a significant score.

“His form has been good throughout the competition batting in the top three, and I thought he played really well in the conditions, when it wasn’t easy against the new ball.

“We had every confidence that he’d go on and play well today, and it’s great to see when a young player goes on to a significant milestone.”

James Hayes, meanwhile, led a relatively inexperienced attack, taking three wickets.

“I thought James was excellent,” he said.

“He set the tone with the new ball and was really good value for his three-fer – on another day he could have picked up four or five, he was spot on.

“I thought his plans were good and he delivered.

“The guys put a really good shift in. It was a young bowling attack but they were committed, and they gave a good account of themselves against a strong batting lineup.”