47
Birmingham, the NatWest Blast champions, began
their 2015 campaign against Nottinghamshire in front of
a decent crowd of 10.000 plus at Trent Bridge and the
tournament could hardly have had a more appealing
start. Thanks to Alex Hales, Nottinghamshire strolled to
victory by eight wickets with thirty three balls to spare.
It was Nottinghamshire’s victory away to Yorkshire
last season that allowed Birmingham to squeeze through
the group stages and then to eventually take the 2014
title.
On the opening evening, The Outlaws won
comfortably, hastened towards their target of 142 by a
clean-hitting start by Wessels, who had 30 in three overs
before he holed out leaving Hales, with three consecutive
sixes off Rankin, followed immediately by the same
treatment to Javid, making short work of an under par
target.
But it was Fletcher, returning from a loan-out spell
at Surrey, who set the Nottinghamshire victory up, as he
took 3 for 24 with Ambrose, Clarke and Evans all being
bowled with perfect yorkers.
Chopra’s protective innings for Birmingham - 80
from 61 balls - was deft and well thought out and
prevented his side’s wipe out. He was run out on the
penultimate ball of the innings, chasing a second. Barker
then replicated that from the last ball.
A score of 141 for 7 felt inadequate, and so it proved
to be.
Nottinghamshire Outlaws v Birmingham Bears
at Trent Bridge, 15th May 2015
Umpires:
M.Bodenham & M Gough
Toss won by:
Nottinghamshire who chose to field
BIRMINGHAM
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE
INNINGS
INNINGS
W. Porterfield
c Taylor JW b Ball
1
M. Wessels
c Lewis
b Clarke
30
V. Chopra*
run out (Mullaney)
80
A. Hales
not out
86
T. Lewis
b Gurney
0
B. Taylor †
c Lewis
b Patel
12
T. Ambrose †
b Fletcher
20
S. Patel
not out
10
R. Clarke
b Fletcher
1
J. Taylor*
L. Evans
b Fletcher
35
G. Smith
A. Javid
not out
2
S. Mullaney
K. Barker
run out (Wessels)
1
V. Philander
J. Patel
L. Fletcher
C. Wright
H. Gurney
B. Rankin
J. Ball
Extras
(1 w)
1
Extras
(2 lb 2 w)
4
Total
(7 wkts, 20 overs)
141
Total
(2 wkts, 14.3 overs)
142
Wkts:
1-3, 2-8, 3-50, 4-52, 5-129, 6-140, 7-141
Wkts:
1-42, 2-79
O
M
R
W
O
M
R
W
Gurney
4
8
24
1
Clarke
3
0
18
1
Ball
4
8
25
1
Barker
2
0
21
0
Philander
2
8
26
0
Weight
2
0
22
0
Fletcher
4
8
24
3
Patel
3.3
0
23
1
Mullaney
4
8
26
0
Rankin
2
0
30
0
Patel
2
8
16
0
Javid
2
0
25
0
Match Result: Nottinghamshire Outlaws won by 8 wickets. Points: Nottinghamshire 2, Birmingham 0.
NatWest t20 Blast 2015 (North Division)
Evans and Chopra the only ray of sunshine
