Nottinghamshire ready to reignite season with T20 Blast win, says Samit Patel

Notts opened their campaign with a disappointing home defeat to holders Worcestershire Rapids last Thursday and then suffered a wash out at Emerald Headingley 24 hours later

Samit Patel believes Notts Outlaws are ready to fire in this season’s Vitality Blast competition.

Notts opened their campaign with a disappointing home defeat to holders Worcestershire Rapids last Thursday and then suffered a wash out at Emerald Headingley 24 hours later.

According to Patel, the Outlaws are desperate to turn their season around and re-discover their best form.

“We’ve got some good players in the squad,” he said. “They are all looking to impress and they’re all excited about doing well in this competition.

“We know the other day wasn’t great,” continued the allrounder, reflecting back to the performance against the Rapids. “And then we had to settle for just a point at Headingley.

“We were looking forward to going there and getting off the mark with a win but you can’t do anything about the weather, so we take the point and are now looking ahead to the next match on Wednesday.”

History would suggest that Notts will start as strong favourites to get their first win in 11 weeks, when they host Northants Steelbacks.

The head-to-head record between the two sides lists heavily in the direction of the Outlaws, having not lost a single group match in either Nottingham or Northampton.

Indeed, the only time the Steelbacks have been successful has been on neutral territory – but it was on the big stage of Finals Day.

In the 2016 semi-final at Edgbaston, Northants gained the upper hand for the first and only time over Notts.

Normal service has been resumed ever since, though, and a stunning century from Dan Christian decided the outcome of last year’s meeting.

The Outlaws’ captain scored a brutal 113 not out from only 40 deliveries at Wantage Road, hitting seven fours and nine sixes, an innings that had Patel’s nod of approval.

“It was incredible stuff,” he said. “We know what’s he’s capable of. He’s a match-winner and can take a game away from you quickly. His ball striking is unbelievable.”

Patel has a decent record of his own against Northants, scoring a vital century against them this season in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

His timely knock secured victory on May 6 and Notts have not won a match in any competition since then.

“That was a good day for me, individually,” commented the 34-year old. “It was an exciting match to win and we’re now hoping we can do something similar in a different competition and get back to winning cricket matches.”

Courtesy of the ECB Reporters Network.

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