Champions Nottinghamshire completed a second successive Vitality Blast North Group victory, seeing off neighbours Leicestershire by 19 runs at Leicester’s Fischer County Ground.

The visitors’ total of 199 for eight was based on a partnership of 97 for the third wicket between Samit Patel and Tom Moores.

The hosts collapsed from 80 for two to 102 for six in pursuit of a
200-run target which did not look unattainable on a good wicket and with a
lightning quick outfield.

Coming together with Nottiinghamshire on 17 for two after Riki Wessels’ was caught by Mohammad Abbas at mid-on, Patel and Moores excelled – albeit with contrasting styles.

Patel, all wristy flicks, timing and placement, reached his 50 first, from 26 balls, including 10 fours. His innings ended on 52 when he holed out to long-on off Callum Parkinson.

The young left-arm spinner picked up the wicket of Moores in the same over. The left-handed batsman had just reached his own half-century with a bludgeoned six over midwicket before his attempt to repeat the shot was well held by Ben Raine. He went for 51.

Captain Dan Christian, while unable to repeat his heroics of Friday evening, when he hit a century off 37 balls at Northampton, ensured his side would get close to 200 by thumping 47 from 29 balls.

The Foxes’ reply began solidly enough, Cameron Delport and Neil Dexter putting on 51 for the opening wicket before Luke Fletcher yorked Delport for 33 in the final over of the first powerplay.

Mark Cosgrove’s immediate dismissal for a duck, brilliantly caught by Steven Mullaney, one handed high to his r ight at midwicket, was a hammer blow to the hosts chances – but the clatter of wickets that followed the loss of Dexter did not make for pretty viewing for the sizeable home crowd.

Lewis Hill was caught slog-sweeping at deep backward square, with Colin Ackermann and Raine perishing at deep midwicket.

Athough Mohammad Nabi, and – in the final over – Mohammad Abbas, hit out to good effect, there was never a sense that the Outlaws’ score was under any real pressure.