Scores, Match Reports, Results, Scorecards - Vitality Blast 2023 May 27th – Lancashire v Nottinghamshire

Daryl Mitchell’s stunning unbeaten 85 helped Lancashire to a statement victory by 22 runs over Nottinghamshire Outlaws at Emirates Old Trafford as the Lightning won their third successive game at the start of the Vitality Blast.

North Group

Lancashire vs Nottinghamshire

Match Summary

Lancashire vs Nottinghamshire, North Group, Vitality Blast

Lancashire 208/4 (20 ov) 186/5 (20 ov)

Result - Lancashire won by 22 runs

Scorecard

The New Zealand international all-rounder lit up a North Group fixture between the two counties with the most match victories in the 20-year history of this competition, helping Lancashire to an unassailable total of 208 for four and win number 138 to Notts’ 137.

Mitchell mixed power with finesse as the hosts sailed beyond 200. He hit six sixes in 41 balls and was supported by useful contributions from England duo Phil Salt 34 and Liam Livingstone 32.

Notts were hurt by dropping four catches - three of them reprieving Mitchell on seven 32 and 79. Captain Steven Mullaney was twice a culprit. 

Former Outlaw Luke Wood yorked Alex Hales for a duck with a beauty of an in-swinger three balls into a chase which was revitalised by Colin Munro’s blistering 60 off 29 balls before it finished short on 186 for five. England left-arm quick Wood finished with two for 29.

Clearly, overseas star Mitchell was fortunate to survive the dropped catches, but he really was outstanding before compatriot Munro tried to match him.

When Mitchell was dropped on seven at mid-on by Steven Mullaney off Conor McKerr, he hit the next ball for a straight six. He did exactly the same when Mullaney dropped a return catch on 32, this time a searing blow clearing long-on.

Mitchell, having reached his fifty off 26 balls, whipped Pakistan quick Shaheen Shah Afridi for a huge six over midwicket before clattering him back over his head for another next ball. By this time, Lancashire were 182 for four in the 18th over on a used but true Old Trafford pitch. 

Kiwi Mitchell, who spent a portion of his childhood living in Manchester, also ramped the same bowler over fine-leg for six. That was arguably the shot of the night.  

Having elected to bat, Lancashire flew out of the blocks thanks to openers Salt and Luke Wells, who also added a brisk 38. They added 49 in the first four overs and an overall partnership of 56 inside six.

From 55 without loss after five, the Outlaws did well to limit their hosts to 86 for three after 10, with Samit Patel’s left-arm spin accounting for Salt bowled and Steven Croft caught at backward point.

But momentum was regained in the second half of the innings. Mitchell led the way and shared 82 for the fourth wicket with his skipper Livingstone, who took his time to find rhythm.

He was 18 off 18 balls before pulling Surrey loanee McKerr for two big sixes over midwicket in the 17th over as the score became 166 for three.

Left-arm quick Wood, one of eight Lightning bowlers used, then put the skids under his ex-county’s chase, striking twice with the new ball to leave them at eight for two inside three overs.

First he uprooted the off-stump of Hales in the first over before hurrying Joe Clarke with a short ball which could only be miscued to midwicket in his next.

Munro, in at three, was quickly into his stride, hitting two sixes off Saqib Mahmood, two more off Livingstone and one off the leg-spin of Wells, taking his side to 86 for two in the ninth over.

But in trying to repeat the dose off Wells, he skied a top-edge which wicketkeeper Salt clung onto.

He shared 78 for the third wicket with Matt Montgomery, who also played positively for 41 off 26 only to run himself out as he thought about two before being turned back - 112 for four in the 12th over.

Tom Moores started brightly and played a particularly eye-catching whip for four through midwicket off Tom Hartley as he raced into the twenties. But a target of 72 off five overs, at 137 for four after 15, was always likely to be too steep. And so it proved.

Mullaney hit three fours in four balls off Saqib Mahmood in the 17th over but holed out, and Moores - 41 not out - and Lyndon James failed to get 36 off the last two overs and 27 off the last.

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