Harry Gurney’s four-for and Samit Patel’s half-century saw Nottinghamshire claim a 22-run win against Warwickshire to be crowned T20 Blast champions at Birmingham on Saturday.
The Nottinghamshire innings told two contrasting stories.
After the Birmingham Bears won the toss, it seemed like the perfect decision for the hosts to field first. Chris Woakes (3-29) ripped through the top order, taking three wickets to throttle a potential quick start for Nottinghamshire, as they were reduced to 30-3 in 29 balls.
But a fight-back from Notts saw Brendan Taylor and Samit Patel turned the game on its head as they took their side to 162 before Taylor was dismissed after a 49-ball 65 (nine fours and one six).
Patel continued his dominance to end on 64 off 42 balls not out (four 4s and four 6s), but it was Daniel Christian’s 24 off eight deliveries (two sixes and two fours), which helped push his side to 190-4 in their 20 overs.
The Bears had a similarly slow start, but Sam Hain was crucial in his side’s chase after the Bears were rattled at 16-2 (2.4). The 22-year-old took the attack to the Nottinghamshire bowlers as he searched for a worthy partner, the hosts knocked down further to 63-4.
Colin de Grandhomme stuck around to see Birmingham pass the 100-run mark, but the New Zealand all-rounder was dismissed on 27 off 19 balls (two sixes) for Gurney’s second scalp.
Hain continued his onslaught to keep his side’s hopes alive by smashing a 44-ball 72 (five fours, three sixes), but his marvellous innings came to end as Gurney claimed his third victim.
Despite a quick cameo knock from 20-year-old Aaron Thomason (26 off 13 balls), it was Gurney (4-17) again who got the breakthrough to reduce the hosts to 160-7 (18.4) and end the Bears’ championship hopes.
Jake Ball (2-26) knocked over Jeetan Patel’s stumps in the 20th over to add further injury to insult, as Nottinghamshire claimed a 22-run win and the T20 Blast trophy for the first time.
Photo: Philip Brown/Getty Images
