Report: Warwickshire v Notts Outlaws, Royal London Cup

Warwickshire tightened Group A of the Royal London Cup right up with a thrilling 14-run victory over Notts Outlaws at Edgbaston. 

In a game reduced by rain to 34 overs per side, the Bears amassed 271 for six, led by captain Will Rhodes’ maiden List A century – 113 from 85 balls with eight fours and five sixes. Rob Yates (46, 45 balls) and Krunal Pandya (37, 28) contributed useful cameos against an attack in which Dane Paterson, Zak Chappell and Fateh Singh took two wickets apiece. 

Nottinghamshire replied with a gallant 257 all out  as Haseeb Hameed (51, 48), Ben Slater (47, 28) and Liam Paterson-White (43, 17) each delivered innings which were dangerous but did not evolve into the match-winning contributions needed.  

The pulsating win was Warwickshire’s third in five group games, leaving them in the thick of the qualification race. Nottinghamshire also remain in contention but are under more pressure having also won three but having played a game more. 

Nottinghamshire chose to bowl and quickly removed Dom Sibley, bowled through the gate by Paterson. Yates and Rhodes responded with a measured stand of 113 in 15 overs before 18-year-old spinner Fateh Singh turned one past the former’s leg-side swat to trap him lbw. 

Michael Burgess soon top-edged Paterson to fine leg but Rhodes timed the ball beautifully. He eclipsed his previous List A career-best of 76 and planted five sixes into the crowd, all at the Pavilion End, one of which took him to a 77-ball hundred. 

Rhodes and Pandya accelerated in a stand of 90 in 59 balls before Notts hit back when both fell to well-judged catches in the deep by Lyndon James. A late flurry from 17-year-old Kai Smith (29, 14 balls) assured the Bears an imposing total. 

Nottinghamshire’s reply was assertively launched by Slater and Sol Budinger (23, 22) before the latter lifted Olly Hannon-Dalby to deep mid-wicket. Dane Schadendorf skied Liam Norwell to long off and Slater’s assault was gathering momentum when he lifted Ethan Brookes to fine leg where Smith ran and dived to complete a superb catch. 

The required run-rate was slowly escalating until Patterson-White thrashed 26 off a Norwell over. That swung the pendulum Notts’ way but it swung back again when Patterson-White hoisted Garrett to deep extra cover and Hameed was brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Burgess off Rhodes. 

When Lyndon James smashed Garrett straight to extra cover, the visitors needed 35 from four overs. Singh added a bold batting cameo (25, 22 ball) to his earlier wickets but when he lifted Rhodes to long off, the last pair needed to find from 12 balls. The end came quickly when Paterson was run out going for a bye.