Outlaws defeat Lancs in T20 opener.

Lancashire were beaten comfortably by a strong all-round Nottinghamshire outfit.

Nottinghamshire Outlaws started their Natwest T20 Blast campaign with a 33-run victory over Lancashire Lightning, with Samit Patel playing a significant all-round contribution.

The all-rounder hit 56 from 41 balls and claimed 2-25 as the hosts achieved a comfortable victory at Trent Bridge, despite the efforts of Jordan Clark, who struck 44 of 20 balls as Lancashire attempted to chase 183.

Nottinghamshire were inserted by the visitors and set about batting the opposition out of the game, reaching a power play score of 65-2. The crucial wicket of Alex Hales (6) gave Lancashire an early breakthrough but Notts responded with force as Michael Lumb and James Taylor started to find the boundary with ease, earning 53 for the second-wicket.

The final over of the power play saw 18 runs conceded, but Clark managed to collect the wicket of Taylor, who played a wonderful cameo of 30 from just 14 deliveries. Patel joined Lumb at the crease and Nottinghamshire continued to take the aggressive route before Lumb (39) was bowled by Steven Croft (1-21).

At 88-3 the match was in the balance, but a partnership worth 46 between Patel and Riki Wessels (25) ensured that Nottinghamshire would be poised to post a formidable total. Patel struck five boundaries on his way to a 39-ball fifty and struck a six soon after as he started to unleash after a steady knock.

Wessels was victim of an unfortunate run out after he skied the ball to James Anderson (1-17) with a dropped catch resulting in a quick piece of thinking from Croft who threw the ball to Jos Buttler for a much-needed run out. 

Croft claimed a typically stupendous catch at deep long-on to remove Patel, as Wayne White (1-31) claimed his precious wicket. But Read and Patel made further strides adding 39 for the fifth-wicket as Nottinghamshire's formidable batting line-up eventually took its toll, with the hosts posting a target of 183.

Lancashire's reply lacked the required level of urgency and a score of 56-2 at the halfway stage reflected their struggle to find boundaries on a regular basis. Opener Karl Brown made 25 runs in as many balls, but the early loss of Tom Smith (13) came at a bad time for the Lightning after he had just hit Ajmal Shahzad for six.

Croft played a key role in the field and with the ball, but struggled with the bat adding 19 off 24 balls and this set the tone for the first half of Lancashire's chase. The sight of Buttler walking to the crease filled the Lancashire faithful with renewed optimism and it took the England wicketkeeper just two balls to play his famous scoop shot for four.

He added further joy to Lancashire's cause with a reverse-sweep for four and a six straight down the ground but when he was caught for 18 off 8 balls the match swung heavily in Nottinghamshire's favour. 

At 79-3 Lancashire needed several good overs to be back in contention, but suffered further setbacks when captain Paul Horton (5) and Wayne White (7) were removed by Patel and Steven Mullaney (3-46) in quick succession.

An imposing figure, Clark stepped to the crease and smashed 22 runs off Mullaney's final over, striking consecutive sixes and as long as he was at the crease the Lightning had a finite chance of snatching an unlikely victory.

But he was starved of the strike and when Ali became the next Lancashire batsman to fall cheaply, responsibility weighted on Clark to complete an unfavourable task. Andy Carter (2-23) had bowled superbly all day and was rewarded with the pivotal wicket of Clark to end any discussion of a Lancashire victory, also claiming the wicket of Arron Lilley with the final ball of his spell.

Harry Gurney (2-25) returned to end proceedings, bowling James Anderson for a duck as the hosts completed a comfortable victory, one which reflected a dominant all-round display from Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

Lancashire will have to pick themselves up quickly and are due to play Worcestershire Rapids tomorrow, as they attempt to reverse their fortunes from this match.

Man of the match:

Without question, Samit Patel's all-round contribution made him the stand-out performer today. He made 56 runs from 41 balls and claimed two wickets at an economy rate of just 6.25, as he crippled Lancashire's chances for victory.