12 Jul, 2025 | 07:51 AM
Nottinghamshire Outlaws boosted their Vitality Blast qualification hopes with a crucial seven-wicket win over Durham, whose grip on the top spot in the North Group was loosened in a high-stakes encounter at Trent Bridge.
Chasing a target of 157 to win, the Outlaws comfortably reached the target with eight balls to spare, thanks to a composed 55* off 40 balls from Jack Haynes. The match saw key contributions from Moises Henriques (43 off 33) and Joe Clarke (43 off 26), who each struck two sixes, ensuring that the Outlaws’ chase was steady but assertive.
Durham, who began the evening as marginal North Group leaders, fell short of their target after a stuttering batting performance. Despite some flashes of brilliance — including Graham Clark’s 44 off 27 balls, which took him past 300 runs for the season — the Outlaws' bowlers, led by Australian seamer Daniel Sams (4-26) and offspinner Matt Montgomery (4-30), restricted Durham to a total of 156 all out in exactly 20 overs.
The win sees Nottinghamshire move to 24 points, just four behind Durham, with two matches remaining for the Outlaws, compared to three for Durham. However, Nottinghamshire's qualification prospects remain in the balance, as they must secure wins in their final fixtures to remain in contention.
Sams and Montgomery Dominate with the Ball
Durham's batting faltered from the outset, with the top order falling to a combination of poor shot selection and tight bowling. Clark was aggressive early on, hitting three sixes in his 27-ball 44, but the Outlaws’ spinners applied the brakes, leaving Durham at 52/3 by the end of the powerplay.
Matt Montgomery was at the heart of the early breakthroughs, dismissing Alex Lees and Ben McKinney in quick succession. The left-handers fell to top-edges trying to hit Montgomery’s offspin over the leg-side boundary. The pivotal moment came when Haynes took a spectacular one-handed catch at mid-off to dismiss Colin Ackermann, who had been in outstanding form against Nottinghamshire the week prior.
By the 10th over, Durham were in deep trouble at 70/4, and despite a somewhat slow 18 off 30 balls from Will Rhodes, they were further reduced to 104/5 by the 15th over. Montgomery’s third wicket was Clark, caught on the wide long-on boundary, and his tight spells helped strangle the Durham innings.
Ollie Robinson and Jimmy Neesham briefly revived Durham's innings, combining for a rapid 32 runs off 13 balls, with some explosive hitting off Calvin Harrison's final over. However, the momentum was short-lived as Sams claimed his first-ever four-wicket haul for Nottinghamshire, removing both Neesham and Kasey Aldridge.
A final flurry from Neesham, who was caught superbly at the boundary, helped Durham post 156. Despite the late surge, Nottinghamshire's bowlers had done enough to keep the target within reach.
Notts Chased Down Target with Confidence
In reply, Durham made an early breakthrough when Matty Potts dismissed Freddie McCann, but Nottinghamshire maintained steady progress thanks to Henriques and Clarke. Callum Parkinson’s economical spell (conceding just seven runs in his first two overs) kept the pressure on, but Clarke’s 43 off 26 balls, including two sixes, kept the chase on track.
The Outlaws were 79/2 at the halfway mark, precisely on the required rate, and sensible batting from Haynes and Henriques ensured there were no major stumbles. Henriques launched two sixes off Aldridge and Neesham, including a maximum over long-off. However, Henriques fell for 43, but by then, Nottinghamshire needed only 38 from the final 30 balls.
Haynes reached his half-century off 38 balls and continued to steer the chase with composure, eventually hitting the winning boundary off Neesham as Tom Moores pulled a short ball to secure the victory.
Qualification Battle Continues
This win was vital for Nottinghamshire, who have struggled in the middle of the tournament after a strong start. With just two matches remaining, they remain in the hunt for a top-four finish. For Durham, this defeat has complicated their qualification path, as they now find themselves locked in a fierce battle with several other teams for the top spots.
Key Statistics:
Jack Haynes: 55* off 40 balls (2 sixes)
Moises Henriques: 43 off 33 balls (2 sixes)
Joe Clarke: 43 off 26 balls (2 sixes)
Daniel Sams: 4 wickets for 26 runs
Matt Montgomery: 4 wickets for 30 runs
Graham Clark: 44 off 27 balls (3 sixes)
Jimmy Neesham: 29 off 17 balls
With both teams still having matches to play, the qualification race remains wide open in a highly competitive North Group of the Vitality Blast.
