LANCS vs NOTS 16th Match, T20 Blast 2023

Chasing a mammoth total of 209, Joe Clarke and Alex Hales shepherded the innings for the Outlaws but they were unable to power the visitors to a good start as Luke Wood wreaked havoc inside the first half of the powerplay. The left-arm pacer first uprooted Alex Hales 0(2) in the first over with an exceptional inswinging yorker and that was soon followed by the wicket of his opening companion Joe Clarke 2(7), who was outdone by a surprised bouncer. 

The Lightning discovered some early swing off the surface and vexed the Nottinghamshire batters. Reeling at 8/2 early on in this contest, Matthew Montgomery joined forces with Colin Munro to bring resurgence to the Outlaws’ innings. The southpaw went on an onslaught and released the pressure while Montgomery was happy to play the second fiddle to him. Munro brought up a ferocious half-century before Luke Wells dismissed him for 60(29) and broke the 78-run stand for the third wicket. 

Earlier in the day, after electing to bat first, Luke Wells and Philip Salt propelled the Lancashire Lightning to a blistering start. Both Wells and Salt went all guns blazing early on and made the most of the field restrictions by swatting 55 runs off the first five overs. Wells was the primary aggressor in the opening stand while Salt also portrayed his pyrotechnic abilities. 

Conor McKerr ceased the treacherous opening stand by removing the southpaw Wells for 38(23). Steven Croft walked in at number three but the right-hander was unable to carry the momentum forward as Samit Patel outfoxed him for 6(7). The left-arm spinner Samit gave another setback to the Lightning by uprooting the well-set Salt for 34(24). 

Following two quick wickets, Daryl Mitchell and Liam Livingstone paired up and continued the assault for Lancashire. The Kiwi brought up some innovative shots and kept toying with the field while the right-handed Livingstone absorbed the pressure early on before he also got into his natural element and clobbered a couple of enormous maximums. 

The pair of Livingstone and Mitchell stitched an 82-run partnership for the 4th wicket before the former holed out in the deep and departed for 32(23). Mitchell kept going at full throttle and accumulated a fantastic 85*(41). Samit Patel was the pick of the bowlers for Nottinghamshire despite being expensive while Shaheen Afridi and Conor McKerr also claimed a wicket each.