Hales unable to equal Chris Gayle's 30-ball ton after falling for 95
Saturday 5 August 2017 18:37, UK
England one-day opener Hales would have equalled Chris Gayle's 30-ball ton for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in the 2013 IPL had he hammered James Weighell for six.
However, he could only sky the seamer to Durham wicketkeeper Stuart Poynter, ending his innings with nine fours and as many sixes after completely bludgeoning the Jets' attack.
Hales dominated a stand of 126 in just 7.1 overs with opening partner Riki Wessels, including thrashing three sixes and two fours off Ryan Pringle in the sixth and three maximums off Cameron Steel in the seventh.
Notts shipped four wickets for 12 runs once Hales was dismissed for his fourth 50-plus score of the campaign - the right-hander also mowing a century against Yorkshire last Sunday - but topped Durham's 183-7 with 37 balls in the bank to move top of the North Group on net run rate.
Michael Richardson (53) and Paul Coughlin (42no off 25) starred with the bat for Durham, who were shorn of the injured Paul Collingwood and Tom Latham, but Hales' pyrotechnics condemned Jets to an eighth defeat in 10.
Elsewhere, Ben Duckett hit an unbeaten 92 from 54 balls - his third fifty of the campaign - as reigning champions Northamptonshire Steelbacks beat Worcestershire Rapids by 24 runs to move up to second spot.
Duckett hit nine fours and three sixes in Steelbacks' 195-4, the left-hander and Steven Crook (34no off 19) cracking 94 from the final 45 deliveries.
John Hastings (0-49) and Rapids skipper Joe Leach (0-36) were taken for in excess of 12 runs an over, while debutant seamer George Scrimshaw, 19, went for 19 from his solitary over up top.
Australian Hastings, who muscled the fastest fifty of the Blast season, from 19 balls, against Birmingham on Friday night, drilled 35 from 19 deliveries against Steelbacks, but Rapids could only haul themselves up to 171-6, despite Daryl Mitchell's late 36 not out from 22 balls.
Our live NatWest T20 Blast coverage continues on Thursday night as Hampshire host Glamorgan. Watch from 6pm on Sky Sports Cricket, following the Kia Women's Super League opener between Southern Vipers and Western Storm at 2pm on the same channel.
