Hall shows some Steel

North Group leaders fail to win needing just five from final over

Last updated: 22nd June 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hall shows some Steel

Hall: Nerves of steel

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North Group leaders Nottinghamshire Outlaws were held to a thrilling tie by Northamptonshire Steelbacks despite needing just five to win from the final over.

Steelbacks captain Andrew Hall showed all his experience when bowling the final over with Notts needing just five runs for victory, as he limited them to just the four needed for a tie.

Hall starred with both bat and ball after finishing unbeaten on 40 in the Northants innings of 121-7, with Alex Wakely top-scoring with 43.

With the hosts needing only five runs from the last six balls, Hall had Notts' top scorer Steven Mullaney caught on the boundary for 53 before conceding four thanks to Graeme White's paddle sweep.

But with the scores level the former South Africa international all-rounder produced two perfect yorkers to finish, with Darren Pattinson and White run out attempting to scramble the winning runs.

Figures

That ruined a memorable match for fast bowler Pattinson, who began the contest with a wicket maiden on his way to career-best figures of 4-19 as Notts restricted the visitors to just 10 boundaries throughout their innings.

Only three Northants batsmen reached double figures in the face of disciplined and probing bowling from the Notts attack, with all but overseas quick Dirk Nannes conceding less than a run a ball.

The Steelbacks' total would have been far worse but for the final over, which saw Nannes hit for 15 runs, including three fours.

Nevertheless, the total appeared an easy one for Notts, who had won six of their opening seven matches thanks in the main to the powerful strokeplay of Alex Hales, Ali Brown, Samit Patel and David Hussey.

But with Chaminda Vaas removing the first three for a combined total of eight and Hall bowling Hussey for two off an inside edge, Notts were in deep trouble at the end of the powerplay overs on 23-4.

Matt Wood batted with purpose in making 41 from 32 balls with five fours, adding 55 for the fifth wicket with Mullaney before being caught at deep cover off James Middlebrook.

That put the pressure on the Notts tail and despite Mullaney's pulled four off Vaas' last over leaving the hosts requiring less than a run a ball, Hall had the final say in a gripping finish.

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